2008 Woodie Awards
Pioneers split double-header
Justin Abaya
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Sports
The Volunteer State Community College baseball team hasn't had the best start to the 2008 season.
It has been tough loss after tough loss.
Going into Feb. 28's double-header against Lake Land College, the Pioneers had a record of 1-9.
"I have spent more time being a psychologist in the last two weeks than I have a baseball coach. Our team is really struggling right now," said head-coach Mike Crossland.
The Pioneers seem to have problems after they score some runs.
"We are having trouble staying out of the big inning. We jump to a 4-0 lead and then we go back out the next inning and give up five runs," said Crossland.
The offensive production has been good.
Freshman Josh Garton started the game off with a bang. He hit a towering homerun over the center field wall. It was the first homerun of his collegiate career.
Errors were a problem for the home team.
But can the errors be attributed to the bad weather we have had lately which consequently leads to fewer practices?
"Were not going to make excuses, were college baseball players. The errors we are making should not happen. This is college baseball and we've got to start playing like it," said Crossland.
The Pioneers let the first game slip away, losing by a score of 11-8.
But Crossland still has confidence in his team.
"We have a heck of a baseball team, but we're just not playing that way right now," said Crossland.
The second game was a different story.
After a solid first inning, sophomore pitcher Ryan Branscum gave up five runs which included a grand-slam.
From that point on, Branscum was dominant.
He pitched five innings of no-hit baseball.
Hitters from Lake Land were frozen by Branscum's curveball and behind on his fastball which topped out at 88 m.p.h. It was good performance indeed.
Heading into the final inning, Vol State was down by one run.
Lake Land's pitcher tried to pick off a runner at first base but the throw was wild and advance the runner to third. Then, the pitcher threw a wild pitch and the Pioneers capitalized and tied the game up.
Fast-forward to the bottom of the ninth inning.
Garton stepped back up to the plate with a chance to be a hero. He took that opportunity and ran with it.
He hit a walk-off homerun to give the Pioneers a much needed victory.
"I have never been a part of something like that in my life, that was my first walk-off," said Garton.
It has been tough loss after tough loss.
Going into Feb. 28's double-header against Lake Land College, the Pioneers had a record of 1-9.
"I have spent more time being a psychologist in the last two weeks than I have a baseball coach. Our team is really struggling right now," said head-coach Mike Crossland.
The Pioneers seem to have problems after they score some runs.
"We are having trouble staying out of the big inning. We jump to a 4-0 lead and then we go back out the next inning and give up five runs," said Crossland.
The offensive production has been good.
Freshman Josh Garton started the game off with a bang. He hit a towering homerun over the center field wall. It was the first homerun of his collegiate career.
Errors were a problem for the home team.
But can the errors be attributed to the bad weather we have had lately which consequently leads to fewer practices?
"Were not going to make excuses, were college baseball players. The errors we are making should not happen. This is college baseball and we've got to start playing like it," said Crossland.
The Pioneers let the first game slip away, losing by a score of 11-8.
But Crossland still has confidence in his team.
"We have a heck of a baseball team, but we're just not playing that way right now," said Crossland.
The second game was a different story.
After a solid first inning, sophomore pitcher Ryan Branscum gave up five runs which included a grand-slam.
From that point on, Branscum was dominant.
He pitched five innings of no-hit baseball.
Hitters from Lake Land were frozen by Branscum's curveball and behind on his fastball which topped out at 88 m.p.h. It was good performance indeed.
Heading into the final inning, Vol State was down by one run.
Lake Land's pitcher tried to pick off a runner at first base but the throw was wild and advance the runner to third. Then, the pitcher threw a wild pitch and the Pioneers capitalized and tied the game up.
Fast-forward to the bottom of the ninth inning.
Garton stepped back up to the plate with a chance to be a hero. He took that opportunity and ran with it.
He hit a walk-off homerun to give the Pioneers a much needed victory.
"I have never been a part of something like that in my life, that was my first walk-off," said Garton.
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