Friday vs Texas A&M:          W 5-1

Saturday vs Texas State:       W 4-3

Sunday vs Baylor:                  W 6-2

Wow! What a weekend!  The Toppers hit the road for the first time this year and came out with a sweep over 3 regional teams from last year to improve our record to 5-1.  We couldn’t have asked for a better trip!  Despite starting off the trip with a rain delay against Belmont, we headed out for Waco, Texas Wednesday afternoon.  The 12 hour bus ride down to Texas wasn’t as horrible as it might sound, even though a lot of the guys had some homework to do since we missed 2 days of classes.  We had the help of quite a few movies to pass the time:  Weekend at Bernies (1 and 2), Role Models, The Junction Boys, and Zombieland just to name a few.  (While Zombieland was funny, not everyone thought it was as good as my roommate Bart Carter had built it up to be!)  After a stop in Arkansas Wednesday night and a long bus ride on Thursday, we arrived in Waco just in time to hit the field for a solid practice Thursday night.  Coming off of a great opening weekend, we were real eager to get back out there and see what we could do against 3 very quality opponents, Texas A&M, Texas State, and Baylor.

We have had this weekend circled on our schedule ever since it came out early this fall.  First off, we feel that we can play with anyone in the country and we all realized that we don’t have many chances this year to prove ourselves against Big 12 and SEC schools, but this weekend we had the chance against 2 Big 12 schools and a 41 win team from a year ago.  It is also always fun to go somewhere you’ve never been before and I don’t think any of us had ever been to Waco before.  We were all very impressed with the facilities Baylor had and this tournament proved to be a preview of what a possible Regional tournament might look like.  Unlike last week, we started the weekend off with a big 5-1 win Friday night against Texas A&M.  Saturday we had to bounce back and face a Texas State team very similar to ourselves.  They are a very good Mid Major program that went 41-17 and made a Regional last year.  We ended up winning in a pitchers duel, 4-3.  After Saturday’s win, we had again reached our goal of winning every weekend series, now with the chance for a sweep.  We knew it wouldn’t be easy against the home team Baylor Bears, but we came out with no pressure and very relaxed, and won on Sunday 6-2.  For the fifth game in a row, we held our opponents under 3 runs, while averaging around 7 runs in those games.  Combine those stats with great defense and solid baserunning, and you will win many games!

Aside from the 3 wins this weekend and a lot of confidence heading into next week’s games, we now have some new pregame and postgame rituals that might sound crazy, but crazy fits our team perfect!  Heading to the game on the bus Friday night, we were all trying to get focused, most of us listening to music on our Ipods.  It was then that our bus driver decided to put his Kid Rock CD in and play the song “Cowboy”.  While no one on the team especially likes Kid Rock, something about this song stuck.  Maybe it was the fact that we went 3-0 this weekend while listening to the song both before and after each game.  It’s a crazy scene on our bus after each win, as we have carried on the tradition of singing our schools fight song, as well as started the new tradition of singing our new team theme song.  We had a great weekend down in Texas and we are looking forward to the upcoming week’s games vs Austin Peay, Belmont, and a weekend series vs Illinois Chicago.

I want to give a shout out to all the parents and family that made the trip down to Waco to support us!  It means a lot to see all the WKU fans in the stands supporting us at all of our games! And to all my teammates, I want to say “Who Dey?”  God Bless!!

Beneath the stadium walls of an ancient roman coliseum, there lie the rugged men – the gladiators. They carry many attributes, these power tools of exhibition - with sharpened minds and focused weapons. They must have sat there in cavern-like dormitories, dreaming of glory to be had or their own righteous deaths. But what is thought about when the days of stagnancy prolong? Does the glory fade into the candlelit bunks, or does the ember to perform burn infinite?

The blood was spilled whether rain or shine within the travertine walls. There was no turf to be covered in snow or mud to be raked dry for a double-header. This age old question still holds derivatives in the minds of us Golden Lions, locked up in our Curtin Center cage – holding our adrenaline back as the flurries continued to fall and burden northeast baseball with its cruel off-timed precipitation.

The game of baseball slightly morphs when kept indoors. It’s like a child shoving a plastic triangle through a square, it fits but it just isn’t right. A diamond squeezed into the stale walls of a gymnasium, no fences to be scaled – just suspended mesh nets depriving baseballs of flight, like red-laced white doves with clipped wings.

If the gladiators were kept inside, no heroes would be had – and the cowardice would cruise among them unchecked. Until we step out on the field, our season is held in suspension – like the see through mesh nets that govern us through the winter, and unfortunately too far into this spring.

I miss the earth-born clay being diced beneath my spikes, but for now our turf shoes troop on over synthetic flooring – and we keep the fire burning within us.

Until the selfish resident stranger that is the snow dissipates from our field – we’ll wait, beneath Brookhaven – arising only to win.

Keep an eye on the Golden Lion schedule for the arrival of our season debut, and thanks to my continued readers.

I have a special guest who currently is a behind-the-scene contributor for Quincy University Athletics. This guy might not be performing in the games or even coaching in them anymore, but he plays a large part in putting student-athletes on the field. I had the honor of working for him this summer in an internship and I got to see firsthand how much work really goes on behind the scenes. I have a high respect for this guy and he was the one of the coaches who brought me to Quincy. Since then he has worked his way up and is now the Associate Director of Athletics, which has always been a dream of his. He has been around the block and has an impressive résumé full of success and experience. I am fortunate enough to interview Greg McVey for a “Down with the Brown” special.

Here is what he had to say:

How did you get where you are now? (Summarize your past)

Currently in my 3^rd year as the Associate Director of Athletics at Quincy University after spending 15 years as a college baseball coach.  Spent 6 seasons as head coach at Quincy University, 2 seasons as head baseball coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College, 2 seasons as Assistant Baseball Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Furman University, 1 season as assistant coach at Miami University (Ohio), 3 seasons as head baseball coach at Miami University Middletown, 1 season as graduate assistant baseball coach at Miami University.

Where are you from? (Grow up, High School, College)

Grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Did you play any college and high school sports?

Played (Pitched) college baseball at Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana.

What is your most memorable baseball moment?

Throwing 13 scoreless innings in the GLVC tournament in 1991.  Recorded a win and two saves in the tournament.

What do you miss most about coaching?

I miss the interaction with the players, seeing them develop over the course of their careers and the “juice” you get while competing in a game.

Who are some of the best players you have ever coached, and coached against?

As a graduate assistant at Miami in 1993 I had the pleasure of working with Chris Sexton who was the MAC Player of the Year and went on to have a brief stint in the majors with the Reds and Rockies.  In 1999, while at Furman had the chance to coach against the University of Miami while Pat Burrell was in college.  He was a beast!  Here at Quincy I had several, Brandon DeJaynes, Kevin Sewell, Kevin Reynolds, Brad Stone, Nick Dunning.  All went on to play professionally at some level.  I cannot forget Cory Wade at Kentucky Wesleyan College who I recruited and never got to coach but tried to beat several times in GLVC play.  Corey is currently on the 40 man roster for the Dodgers.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

I think having a chance to participate in an NCAA Tournament as a student-athlete, coach and administrator.  How many people can say that?

Did you have any rituals or superstitions you do before or during games while coaching or playing?

As a coach I would always have an Egg McMuffin before home games and Frosted Flakes on the road.  I can’t divulge my superstitions as a player.  This is a family blog.

How do you spend your free time?

Spending time with my family, playing golf.  As I have gotten older I enjoy taking long walks.  It centers me.

What are your favorite TV shows, movies, or books?

Love CSI, Three Sheets, Tosh.O.  Love The Hangover, any Sci-Fi movie, Love John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks novels. 

What are your favorite sports teams?

Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Reds, Indiana Pacers. 

Who is your favorite major league baseball player?

Past Player, Cal Ripken  Current Player, Derek Jeter

If you could be reborn as a baseball player and have any skill you want, what position would you choose to play and why?

I would argue that I could play any position when I was a player.  My coaches didn’t see it that way.  To answer the question I would want to catch.  I like to be in control.

Let’s say that two baseball players are looking to come to the school where you are currently the head coach.  They both play right field and are essentially the same player on defense.  One of the players hits 3-5 every game with all singles.  The other hitter is 1-5 with a home run and four strikeouts ever single game.  You only have one scholarship left and both players will only come if they are coming for free. 

Which player do you take and why?

I would find a way to talk them both into coming to my school.  However, if I had to choose, I would take the 3-5 guy because that person has more of a chance to make an impact on the game because he is consistently more productive.  I would bat him second.  If the leadoff guy is a high on-base% guy you are automatically in position to score early in the game with guys on base and the middle of your line-up coming up.  The 1-5 guy is attractive because if you project his number out during the season he would hit at least 56 home runs and most likely drive in 70-80 runs.  Nevertheless, by striking out four times in each game he is really only having one productive at bat per game, while the other guys is having at least three productive at bats and most likely 4 or 5.

God Bless

#17

Tough loss for the pnathers today against Belmont. On a beautiful February day in Nashville panthers jumped out to an early lead but were unable to come back late in the game when we needed to. Looking forward getting back out there tommorow with little bit better results. Would like to say thanks to all the parents who drove down and supported us today. Till next time

Risk it for the Biscuit!

#11

It has been a wild week since my last update. We have played six games since Saturday. We played a double header on Sunday morning against the then 30^th ranked University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers. We followed that up with afternoon double headers on Wednesday and Thursday against St. John’s University (Collegeville, MN) and Kansas Wesleyan University (Salina, KS) respectively. We definitely rode the roller coaster of the baseball season this week with many ups and downs.

Our week of games started out with a bang on Sunday morning. Sophomore righty Chris Peterson (St. Anthony, MN) took the hill against the nationally ranked Lopers and delivered a great performance. Peterson in his first start of the season went six innings allowing just three hits and three unearned runs. Peterson took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. He gave way to junior Nick Anderson (Plymouth, MN) in the seventh with the score knotted at 3 to 3. Anderson allowed two one-out singles before retiring the next two hitters to end the Lopers threat in the 7^th and send the Golden Bears to our second extra inning game of the year. After Anderson retired the side again in the top of the 8^th, senior Brenden Furrow (Johnston, IA) stepped up and hit the second pitch he saw over the fence in left centerfield for a walk-off solo homerun. He was mobbed by all his teammates at home plate. Anderson picked up his first victory of the season moving his record to 1-1.

In game two freshman lefty Patrick Rydeen (Stillwater, MN) took the mound for his first career collegiate start. Rydeen went three innings allowing three runs on four hits. Rydeen was relieved by fellow freshman Hogan Jackson (Oakdale, MN) making his first collegiate appearance throwing a solid inning of work. The Golden Bears could never get the bats fully alive against UNK starter Roy Metter (Phoenix, AZ) as he went six innings allowing three unearned runs while scattering six hits. Metter was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference pitcher of the week for his efforts in the Lopers 4 to 3 victory in game two.

We moved forward from the series split with still more things to work on and just two days of practice to improve before Wednesday’s games.

Wednesday’s double header against the St. John’s Johnnies didn’t go the way that we planned. We came out flat and the Johnnies jumped all over mistakes. Redshirt Freshman Andy Fagely (Mahtomedi, MN) threw well in his four innings on the hill allowing just one earned run and striking out five. Freshman Griff Kilber (Chanhassen, MN) excelled in his second appearance of the year allowing one run over three innings of solid relief. The bats never got going against St. John’s pitching and we dropped game one 4 to 0.

Game two with the Johnnie’s was a similar story until the late innings. Junior college transfer Ryan Rodeck (Lino Lakes, MN) took the ball for his first start in a Golden Bear uniform. Rodeck was right around the zone, but just couldn’t find his sharpest stuff and was tagged for seven runs on eight hits in just one and two-thirds innings of work. The Johnnie’s jumped out to an 8 to 1 lead before the Bears clawed back. We posted two runs in the fourth, two more in the fifth, and one in the sixth to cut the lead to 9 to 6. In our last at-bat in the 7^th inning we pushed across two more runs forcing a bases loaded situation, but the Johnnie’s pitching came through once again to end the threat and cap a 9 to 8 victory.

We headed to the Metrodome again on Thursday for another early afternoon twin-bill. This time the mood in the dugout was much looser. Guys were focused on their responsibilities but everyone looked like they were more relaxed and better suited for success than we did the day before. We faced Kansas Wesleyan University (Salina, KS). In game one Ben Lemke (Rosemount, MN) lead the charge for the Golden Bears. Lemke threw six inspired innings on the mound scattering just six hits and allowing three runs with a pair of them being earned while striking out eight Coyote batters. Lemke also lead the way at the plate going 2 for 3 with a both of Concordia’s RBI’s. Despite Lemke’s efforts the Golden Bears could not shake KWU starter Aaron Converse (Salt Lake City, UT). Converse threw a complete game allowing just two runs on five hits and sealing the deal in the 7^th when Zach Goodwin (Mahtomedi, MN) grounded out to end the game. The Coyotes scored a 3 to 2 victory in the epic pitcher’s duel.

With three straight loses the Golden Bears needed a stopper. Someone to change the dynamics of a game and get us rolling in the right direction. Junior Nick Anderson (Plymouth, MN) would not let himself be out done by the pitching performances on both sides in game one. Anderson took the ball in game two and did just what we needed. He was a stopper. Anderson threw just 103 pitches in his complete game performance. He out dueled KWU starts Matt Royal (Chandler, AZ) who also put out another great performance. It was a day of staggering performances on the mound. Royal went all seven innings allowing just two runs on the five Golden Bear hits. Anderson was just a little bit better as he allowed just one run on six hits striking out nine including all three batters he faced in the final frame. It was an inspired performance by Anderson, and we can hopefully ride the momentum into our hectic spring break schedule of games in Orlando, FL.

We are off until we open up our spring break trip on Saturday, March 6^th in Orlando against West Virginia Wesleyan. We hope to have a good week of practice to keep ourselves rolling and string together some victories as we creep closer and closer to Conference play.

In-Season Notes:

Next Game: West Virginia Wesleyan University, Saturday, March 6^th 9:30am in Orlando, FL

Overall Team Record: 3-6

Central Region Record: 1-2

Conference Record: 0-0

Conference Standing: 8^th (Preseason)

Game Notes:

First Concordia Hitter to hit a walk-off homerun in 2010, Brenden Furrow (2/21 against Nebraska-Kearney)

First Concordia Pitcher to throw a complete game in 2010, Nick Anderson (2/25 against Kansas Wesleyan)

Home Run Count: Blake DeVries, 3, Brenden Furrow, 2.

If any readers have any feedback or questions that they would like answered please feel free to email SID@csp.edu, and I will answer them in future blogs or through email if they are better suited to be answered that way. Personal thoughts from readers are always appreciated.

-Go Golden Bears-