Crusader baseball starts off season in winning fashion
Posted by The Skyliner on February 10th, 2010Billy Cannada
Staff Writer
Freshman designated hitter Jonathon Polak helped lead the Crusaders to victory in each of their first two games in 2010. In North Geenville’s comeback win over King College on Feb. 4, Polak finished the game with one home run and two RBI. (Photo by Timur Kamilov)
The North Greenville baseball team is off to a perfect start as they downed King College twice in an opening day double-header on Feb.4 at Ashemore Field in Tigerville.
“We are excited to get off to a great start,” Head Coach Travis Henson said. “It is always good to win your first two, but the way we did it was even more encouraging.”
Game one for the Crusaders was everything the players and coaches had hoped it would be. The Crusaders came out firing on all cylinders taking it to King College 10-3. Drew Provence, freshman business administration, got the start for the Crusaders, throwing a solid five innings, only giving up three earned runs and striking out six batters. Marus Duckworth, sophomore social studies education, had the hot bat for the Crusaders in game one, going 3-4 with three RBI.
“I was honored to get the first start of the season, and happy to get the win for my team and the fans [of North Greenville baseball],” Provence said.
The second game in the double-header started out shaky for the Crusaders, as they gave up five quick runs off of seven hits. North Greenville was able to battle back, however, and down King College 9-6. The Crusaders were led by Derek Fulmer, freshman business administration, who went 2-4 with two RBI and Jonathon Polak, freshman health promotion and wellness, who also had two RBI.
“In game one, we had a great outing from our pitchers and were able to get some very clutch hits that put us ahead. In game two, we got down five to nothing to start, and we were able to battle back,” Henson said.
The Crusaders believe that these two wins are extremely important for their confidence, and they will be looking for a lot more of the same.
“I feel like we have a chance to win every time we step on the field this year, and that is something that is very exciting,” Henson said. “We don’t really have a goal as far as a particular number of wins. Our goal is just to win every game.”
The coaches believe that this can be a very talented team, and the players are beginning to buy into that idea as well.
“I think the team has bought in to what the coaching staff is trying to achieve,” Provence said. “We have a lot of depth on our roster and in our pitching staff that was not here last year, so you should expect us to have a very good year.”
The Crusaders (2-0) played yesterday against Limestone College in Gaffney, SC. North Greenville’s next game will be Friday, Feb. 12 against Davis & Elkins College at 2 p.m. at Ashemore Field.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 3