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| Ping!Baseball Spotlight Interview
Robbie Rowen and Marcus Wynn
Long Island University |
As much as we hate to admit it, college baseball is dominated
by schools from the South. Nevertheless, the game is played
with just as much passion and enthusiasm by teams from where
the Christmases are white and a NASCAR race is just a series
of left turns. The Long Island Blackbirds of the Northeast
Conference will need a Cinderella-esque streak to make it
to Omaha, but in a game where an inch can make the difference
from a grand slam or a lazy long fly out, you can’t
ever count a team out. LIU’s senior outfielders Robbie
Rowen and Marcus Wynn were nice enough to take some time out
to answer a few questions from Ping! about playing ball in
New York.
 PING!:
With so many universities in New York and the Northeast, why
did you choose Long Island University and a playing career
as a Blackbird?
Rowen: The location in the inner city. Being
from a small town, playing in the big city seemed like a new
challenge and a new adventure.
Wynn: Long Island was the only school that
came and looked at me. A hitting coach in New Jersey knew
their [former] assistant coach [Chris Bagley] and they came
and saw me. It was the best game I ever had in high school.
I went 4-for-4 with a grand slam, a three-run homer and two
doubles. After that, they offered me a scholarship.
PING!: Last
year the Blackbird’s team batting average rocketed nearly
points from .268 to .294 and the pitching’s staff ERA
fell over a run from 6.15 to 5.00 in Northeast Conference
play. Do you attribute the change more to the level of competition
in the NEC or LIU’s ability to put things together in
the second season with a first year coach?
Rowen: I’d say a combination of both. First
and second year players finally being able to understand the
daily grind, and a new philosophy makes you want to try harder
to put things together.
Wynn: I think it’s LIU… our pitchers
especially. We had Kenny Cedel. He stepped it up as a freshman.
We also had Mike Maynard. He was our best pitcher and went
5-1. Those guys were basically unhittable.
PING!: Symbolically,
if not historically, the historical growth of baseball and
New York City have been linked together. Do you feel a little
something extra in the air when you’re playing nine
innings on the green grass of an NYC ball diamond?
Rowen: No, not really. To see grass in the
city is always nice, but when you’re playing on turf
the ball bounces differently. I don’t even know the
last time I saw grass in the city.
Wynn: Maybe it feels that way because of
the Yankees and all their history in New York, but besides
that it feels the same wherever you play.
 PING!:
Do the Blackbirds of LIU have a traditional rival in which
the stakes are raised a little bit higher on the playing field?
Rowen: Probably [Northeast Conference opponent]
Mount St. Mary’s. It’s not your typical rivalry,
but there’s always some level of conflict that arises
at a game.
Wynn: It used to be St. Francis (N.Y.) because
they’re also in Brooklyn. But know that they’re
gone I’d say it’s FDU [Fairleigh Dickinson] because
our old assistant coach Chris Bagley is there now and he knows
what’s left of his team top to bottom.
PING!: Much
is made of home field advantage in college football and basketball
due to fan support. Despite smaller attendance, but greater
field uniqueness, is playing on your own diamond in college
baseball a significant advantage as well?
Rowen: Yeah, with all the buildings being
around we understand how to play the wind. It’s tough
with the lack of foul territory.
Wynn: I like to play here because you get
the random people off the street to come and support you.
When you play away there’s extra drive because of opposing
fans. You want to shut them up and play well.
PING!: What
you find the more troubling tradition of college baseball?
The use of aluminum bats, the designated hitter rule, an abundance
of doubleheaders or coaches wearing tight baseball pants?
Rowen: The DH rule. I absolutely hate it.
You should have nine players and nine players hit.
Wynn: Aluminum bats. I like wood, it feels
better, especially in the summer.
PING!: Yankees
or Mets?
Rowen: Mets.
Wynn: I’ll have to go with the Mets,
but I’m an Orioles fan.
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