By Gavin Lindahl
Assistant Sports Editor
Welcomed by a 90-degree falloff, the Bona’s baseball team returned home after an upsetting 1-8 campaign in Port Charlotte, Fl. for the Snowbird Classic, according to head coach Larry Sudbrook.
“We went 3-6 down there last year playing a predominantly senior team, so we knew it was going to be a difficult start,” Sudbrook said.
He said the large amount of underclassmen had an impact on how well the Bonnies played in Florida.
“There were 13 underclassmen who got playing time down in Florida. So am I disappointed we’re 1-8? Absolutely. Was it unexpected? I can’t say that.”
According to Sudbrook, after a closer look at the scores the Bonnies were still in every game.
Discounting a lopsided 14-3 loss, the average score of the Bonnies’ eight other games was 5.5 to 2.4.
“The thing we did not do well was hit,” Sudbrook said. “We graduated six out of nine position players last year, so we knew scoring runs was going to be a challenge.”
Despite the Bonnies’ poor hitting, the team’s pitching is what kept them in the games, according to Sudbrook.
“The pitching was pretty darn good. We had four starting pitchers, senior Joel Rosencrance; sophomore Steven Klimek, senior Asa Johnson and sophomore Connor Grey that each got two starts down there – every time they gave us an opportunity to win,” Sudbrook said.
The Bonnies lost four players to injury during their stay in Florida over break with one being potentially long-term.
“It’s part of sports, but we had our senior first baseman Justin Brozick go down against Iowa,” Sudbrook said. “He hurt his knee; the MRI showed that he probably isn’t going to need surgery, but he’s going to be in rehab for up to a month.”
Sudbrook said Brozick’s injury wasn’t the end of it for the Bonnies.
“Then during the week we lost two outfielders, redshirt-junior Bret Heath and junior Jonathan Diaz, and we had two pitchers, redshirt-sophomore Aaron Ballmer and freshmen Jack McClure. They should be ready to go against OU next week, though.”
Among the team’s thirteen underclassmen who got starts, freshmen Dan Trimble and sophomore Thad Johnson stood out, according to Sudbrook.
“Trimble caught about five or six of our nine games down in Florida, and we think he’s going to be a special player. He threw the ball really well from behind the plate, and he swung the bat pretty well, so he certainly contributed quite a bit,” Sudbrook said.
“Johnson moved to shortstop this year, and he played outstanding defensively and offensively.”
According to Sudbrook, junior transfer catcher Dylan Dunn also played well in Florida. Dunn led the team in hitting over the nine games batting .364 and driving in seven runs.
“We’re pleased with the younger guys – freshmen, sophomore, juniors – they were the key components, and we think it bodes well for the second half of the season,” Sudbrook said.
“We know it’s going to be a struggle the first half. We don’t get outside with the weather we have here, and the young guys need that playing time. So I think we’ll be getting better by the end of the year.”
lindahg12@bonaventure.edu
