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Baseball Team Improves Record

A program in its fourth year, the Houghton College baseball team continues to grow with a 14-11 record as of April 13, with just less than half of the season left.

JasonMucher BBallRGB“This season has been a step in the right direction for our program. We are on pace to set a new record for wins as a program, but our record does not fully speak to the talent on this team,” said senior and captain of the baseball team, Michael Kerr.

Kevin Cassar, senior and member of the team added to the discussion, “We are a team that is learning to not give up when we get down in games.  We’ve had multiple instances where we have battled back, and although we may not have won a lot of the games we’ve had to make comebacks in, we never really quit until the last out of the last inning is made.”

The young team opened their season at the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational where they were 5-5, with their biggest victory putting an end to Alma College’s 9-0 record with their first lost.

Currently in the Empire 8, the men are 2-3 with a few big games coming up. Cassar talked about the teams recent sweep against Geneva College as, “some of the best and most complete baseball we’ve played.”

Cassar explained, “We have a couple must-win games coming up in the next few weeks which will be really important to us making the postseason.  When we resume Empire 8 play, it’s going to be tough.” Upcoming games include opponents such as St. John Fisher, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Utica College, all big competitors.

With the remaining season ahead, the men will need a total of 20 wins to make the NCCAA playoffs, and have a big opportunity to be contenders with their current record.  The team has set big goals for themselves, explained Cassar, “We’re hoping to finish over 500 and qualify for the NCCAA tournament.” He added, “We’re also looking to make a run in the Empire 8 conference tournament.”

Over the past four years the players have bettered the program and their play on the field. “Although we have had good seasons in the past, we would like to be a program that can compete in this conference and have a playoff shot each year,” stated Enrico Sukhdeo, senior and player on the team.

Kerr added, “Our team this year is much deeper than in previous years. We have guys that can step up at any moment. We are not relying on just a few guys this year, we are a team”

This may the program will graduate ten seniors, which includes three starting pitchers, the right fielder, center fielder, second baseman, third baseman, and 3 key relief pitchers. Those seniors also include the last of the players who were there when the team was started.

“Next year we are going to be fairly young and while we still will have a lot of guys with college experience, experience isn’t something you can teach. There are going to be a lot of young guys that need to step up”, said Cassar.

The Highlanders will be playing home today against Stevens Institute of Technology at 6 p.m. The two schools will face each other again tomorrow at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Houghton.