Chris Ferrick-Manley
Staff Reporter
Despite being swept by Ursinus this past Saturday, the McDaniel baseball team (14-10, 7-6 Centennial Conference) has already put together one of its strongest seasons in recent memory, and remains in contention for a playoff spot.
Dave Seibert, the manager of the Green Terror, believes that the team’s strong run to end last season has given them confidence heading into this season, in a league where Seibert believes any team can beat any other.
According to Seibert, the strength of the team this year has been its hitting. As a team, the Green Terror are hitting .324 with 10 home runs and 169 RBIs.
“Clearly, statistically, hitting has been our strength,” said Seibert.
On the other hand however, the pitching for the team has been less strong then the hitting, with a 5.67 team ERA. According to Seibert, the opposing teams have been doing a good job of situational hitting against the Green Terror this season.
“You always strive to have good pitching and defense and that will keep you in every game,” said Seibert.
One factor that has affected pitching this season for the team is the unusually high amount of rainouts. To this date, there have been over five rainouts. This includes two doubleheaders in one weekend, twice.
According to Seibert, every team in the conference is struggling with the same effects of the weather, but he has not had a chance to use the pitching rotation he had planned because of the rain.
“Some guys had too much rest, some guys too little rest,” said Seibert.
According to senior pitcher Chase Wolf, the pitching staff has held up remarkably well given its relative inexperience. The majority of the innings thrown by McDaniel pitchers this season have been thrown by underclassmen or pitchers returning from season ending injuries last year.
“We’ve been putting our guys under a lot of pressure,” said Wolf, “I give those guys a lot of props.”
Already this year, the Green Terror have won more games than they had in any of their previous three seasons, and as of April 19 are only half a game out of the final playoff spot. With a dozen seniors on the team, this is their best shot yet at making the playoffs.
“If we don’t win there re a lot of questions about why the talent didn’t get you there,” said Wolf, “I think we’re capable of beating anyone in the conference.”
Senior centerfielder Zach Croft believes the success of this season could be chalked up to a better attitude that did not exist in years past.
“In past seasons we were in the game for the first four or five innings,” said Croft “now the team doesn’t give up.”
In the team’s first doubleheader against Scranton, they twice won on walkoffs and more recently overcame a 7-0 deficit to beat Gettysburg 14-13.
According to Croft, in past years seniors did not get along well with the freshmen on the team. Now people are treated as equals which has created a better overall attitude conductive to winning. However, Croft sees a potential rebuilding year for the team next year with the departure of so many seniors.
“Its been a rough three years and we want to finish on a high note,” said Croft, “This is the best chance we’ve had in five years now.”
The final home doubleheader for the Green Terror is this Saturday on Spring Fling. Game time is 12:30 pm.