Award-winning student news since 1978

The Brookhaven Courier

Award-winning student news since 1978

The Brookhaven Courier

Award-winning student news since 1978

The Brookhaven Courier

Bears build momentum during three-game slugfest

By Adam Coleman

Staff Writer

 

The Brookhaven team kneels together as they settle in and prepare for the start of the game.
Photos by Scott Godbey and Paul Lauder | The Brookhaven team kneels together
as they settle in and prepare for the start of the game.

 

 

Baseball season is here. The Brookhaven College Bears kicked off the season against NJCAA Division One powerhouse Weatherford College. The Bears were ranked 4th in the Collegiate Baseball News national poll, according to baseballnews.com/polls/njcaa. This marks the third time in four years that Brookhaven has been in the Top 10 in national polling.

Head baseball coach Brandon Rains said he has high hopes for the team this season. “Our expectations of the 2014 season are the same as they are every year. We expect to win a conference championship, a regional championship and a national championship. In order to accomplish those things, we have to work very hard in practice, have the right attitude and compete as hard as we can. If we do those three things, then winning takes care of itself,” Rains said.

 

Weatherford’s sliding base runner disrupts second baseman Byron Brooks’ attempt to tag him during his attempt to steal second base.
Weatherford’s sliding base runner disrupts
second baseman Byron Brooks’ attempt to tag him during his attempt to steal second base.

Sandwiched between two sub-40-degree days, the Bears hosted Weatherford in the homeopener on a beautiful 65-degree day with an enthusiastic crowd in attendance, as well as many scouts. “There’s nothing like hearing that crack off the bat or the anticipation of bang-bang play at the plate,” baseball fan Benny Phan said.

Unfortunately, the day quickly turned sour when in the first inning, sophomore pitcher Garrett Harris was hit by a lightning fast come-backer that left the bat at 102 mph. After that tragic play, Weatherford went on to drive in six runs and pull ahead in the first inning. Harris, however, showed his toughness and stayed in the game for the next inning to pitch a shut out, while earning strike-outs on two of his three outs.

Despite the early deficit, the Bears battled back to make the game interesting, led by sophomore first baseman Alexander Anderson, who brought out his boomstick as he knocked a home run over the center field wall. The Bears continued to scratch and claw for runs by playing a little small ball. However, Weatherford was able to weather the storm and pull away to win a 15-5 victory.

The Bears would then travel to Weatherford to finish off the rest of the series.

Rains said he was pleased by the way his team responded after such a tough loss.

“During our first game, we got off to a slow start to one of the best D1 teams in the country and were never able to climb back in it. More important than the opening day defeat was the response in the second game, in which we were a couple of plays from winning the second game on the road and did actually win the third game. So all in all, it was a very productive weekend despite the losing two of three. Our coaches learned right away that this team has a tremendous amount of grit in them,” Rains said.

Rains said he hopes to carry the momentum of the victory into the Bears’ next game against Cisco College, which is “also a D1 power, so it will be another good test.” Starting pitcher “Garrett Harris sustained a bruise on his ribs, but will be fine for this weekend’s start,” Rains said.

There will be plenty of chances to watch Brookhaven continue its quest for a championship. So come on out, wear green and watch your Bears go on to victory.

 

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