Spalding Baseball Loses Season Opener

The Spalding University Golden Eagle Baseball Team dropped both games of a double-header against Franklin College on February 28.  These were the first two games of a forty game season.  Sunday was also the debut of new head coach Mike Stawski.  Stawski has coached as an assistant at this level, but never as a head coach.  When asked what it was like coaching in his first collegiate game, Stawski said, “It obviously wasn't what I had hoped for. You always imagine winning your first college game with a walk off homerun or a big strikeout. I was definitely excited before the game about coaching in my first official game, the outcome was not what I hoped for but the excitement is always there."  The outcomes that Stawski is talking about are a 9-1 loss and a 17-2 loss.

The Golden Eagles fought hard throughout both games.  The scores do not reflect Spalding’s effort for the games.  Coach Stawski stated, “We played hard for every inning, that what the best thing I saw. A lot of teams, especially young teams would give up when they fall behind like we did, but our guys didn't.”  The story of the first game was the pitching of Spalding’s Jake Wardrip.  Wardrip pitched 7 innings, giving up 7 hits and only 1 earned run with 5 strikeouts and 0 walks.  “I thought Jake threw very well against a great hitting team,” Coach Stawski said, “He competed and gave us a chance.”  Ryan Metry had the most impressive day at the plate for Spalding, hitting 3-7 on the day.  The coach is not overly worried about the improvements that his team needs to make.  Spalding has a young team.  They will only lose one player, senior Brandon Fenwick, after this season.  Stawski explains, “Improvements will come with experience. We have a bunch of good players, we just need to continue to learn the game and many of our improvements will come from that." 

The coach expects to have a good season.  When asked what the outlook is for the season, Coach Stawski replied, “There is no reason to jump ship just yet. We have a very talented team and we have a good work ethic. When you put those two things together you have a dangerous team and that's what my outlook is for the rest of this season. We are going to be a dangerous team for people to play. I have no excuses for how we played this weekend but that did not showcase what type of team we are, we are much better than that.” 

Spalding looks to get on track in their next game at Centre College on March 10, 2010.  All Spalding Baseball home games will be played at Derby City Field.  Come out and cheer on the Golden Eagles as they start their new season.