2008 Woodie Awards
Gorloks battle tested after spring trip
Team brings record to 5-8 after 11 games in the Tampa Bay Invitational
By: Tom Parr
Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Webster baseball team spent spring break in Florida, playing 11 grueling games in seven sunny days.
The Gorloks' first six games (spanning March 12 through 14) came in the form of three double-headers in as many days. Webster went 2-4 during that game-heavy stretch versus seven other schools from around the nation.
Two of those schools were nationally ranked and six of the seven teams in attendance were 20-game winners last year, while one team won 30 games.
Head Coach Marty Hunsucker balanced playing such tough competition so early against what other Saint Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams would be doing before conference play opens this weekend.
"Some teams play a lighter (early) schedule, thinking that racking up wins will give the team confidence," Hunsucker said. "Other teams play a tougher schedule, with the thought being that (the competition) will give them an edge later. For us, I think what prepares you the most is just playing the game."
The Gorloks finished the tournament 5-6 (see box), with three of those losses decided by two runs or less and two games going into extra innings. The losses could have easily gone the other way and showed that the Gorloks, despite the taxing tournament schedule, made the right choice in going to the Tampa Invite, Hunsucker said.
"We showed a lot of resilience by getting out of a few tough jams," Hunsucker said. "It's important that, if you find yourselves down four or five runs early, that you peck your way back and that's what we did."
As far as injuries go, Hunsucker said there were none to report besides the obvious "sore arms and bodies."
The tourney was also a good chance for players, especially pitchers, to play through some situations that they normally wouldn't have. It also served as an opportunity for the coaches to get a look at some players that, up to this point, may not have seen much time.
"The important thing is we got a lot of people out there," Hunsucker said. "We got to run guys longer and see how guys react to the positives and the negatives of playing that much."
The Gorloks begin conference play March 25 at MacMurray College before returning home to play those very same Highlanders March 26.
Tampa Invite scores:
March 12 Gettysburgh 0-2(10)
Gettysburgh 5-7 L
March 13 Keystone 12-11 L
Keystone 8-7 (10) W
March 14 Ripon Coll. 6-4 W
Ripon Coll. 2-8 L
March 16 Mt. St. Joseph 7-1 W
Mt. St. Joseph 6-0 W
March 17 Drew Univ. 9-21 L
March 17 RPI 9-6 W
March 18 Husson College NA
The Gorloks' first six games (spanning March 12 through 14) came in the form of three double-headers in as many days. Webster went 2-4 during that game-heavy stretch versus seven other schools from around the nation.
Two of those schools were nationally ranked and six of the seven teams in attendance were 20-game winners last year, while one team won 30 games.
Head Coach Marty Hunsucker balanced playing such tough competition so early against what other Saint Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams would be doing before conference play opens this weekend.
"Some teams play a lighter (early) schedule, thinking that racking up wins will give the team confidence," Hunsucker said. "Other teams play a tougher schedule, with the thought being that (the competition) will give them an edge later. For us, I think what prepares you the most is just playing the game."
The Gorloks finished the tournament 5-6 (see box), with three of those losses decided by two runs or less and two games going into extra innings. The losses could have easily gone the other way and showed that the Gorloks, despite the taxing tournament schedule, made the right choice in going to the Tampa Invite, Hunsucker said.
"We showed a lot of resilience by getting out of a few tough jams," Hunsucker said. "It's important that, if you find yourselves down four or five runs early, that you peck your way back and that's what we did."
As far as injuries go, Hunsucker said there were none to report besides the obvious "sore arms and bodies."
The tourney was also a good chance for players, especially pitchers, to play through some situations that they normally wouldn't have. It also served as an opportunity for the coaches to get a look at some players that, up to this point, may not have seen much time.
"The important thing is we got a lot of people out there," Hunsucker said. "We got to run guys longer and see how guys react to the positives and the negatives of playing that much."
The Gorloks begin conference play March 25 at MacMurray College before returning home to play those very same Highlanders March 26.
Tampa Invite scores:
March 12 Gettysburgh 0-2(10)
Gettysburgh 5-7 L
March 13 Keystone 12-11 L
Keystone 8-7 (10) W
March 14 Ripon Coll. 6-4 W
Ripon Coll. 2-8 L
March 16 Mt. St. Joseph 7-1 W
Mt. St. Joseph 6-0 W
March 17 Drew Univ. 9-21 L
March 17 RPI 9-6 W
March 18 Husson College NA