Baseball maintains high spirits despite record

The season so far for the Norwich baseball team has been a "little rough." according to senior pitcher Ryan Kelly.

"We have struggled this season to get into the win category and it has been a rough season for us as a team," said Kelly, 21, a physical education major from Niskayuna, N.Y. "This is my last season in a Norwich uniform so what is left of it; I would like to get a few wins. We need to turn it around with the games that we have left and do everything that it takes whether it's at practice or in the game."

The baseball team is 2-26 and 2-13 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).

The team was 8-28 last year with a conference record of 5-9.

 "Last year we did all right in our conference; we lost in the first round of the GNAC tournament to Johnson and Wales University. We would have to go on a winning streak to have a chance to make the tournament this year," Mitch Blair, 20, a junior business major from Danby, Vt., said earlier this season.

"It is going to be hard to make the tournament this year, but if we don't I would like to end this season on a positive note," said Kelly.

"We have to continue to encourage each other day in and day out in order to be successful for the remainder of the season," said Travis Dyke, 22, a senior criminal justice major from Lewiston, Maine.

"Positive reinforcement is what we need to apply for everything we do whether it is in practice or the game," said Blair.

"Although baseball in itself has not been all so fun this year, the guys have bonded well and it all started in Arizona," said Kelly.

"Everyone gets along real well and that is the great thing we will be taking away from this season," said Dyke.

"I have been very privileged to spend all this time with the team, they are a wonderful bunch of guys and we have great chemistry as a team," said Chris Spofford, 19, a communications major from Kennebunk, Maine. "Being the manager is not an easy job for anyone in college baseball, but these guys make my job easy because they have fun and are always smiling."

"Hopefully the struggle comes to an end and we as a team pull it together and get a few wins before this thing is done," said Kelly.

"I believe with the remaining games on the schedule we will in fact get a few wins because it seems at this time everyone is tired of losing and hungry to get a few wins and possibly turn a few heads with the remaining games left," said Spofford.

"We are very capable of being successful. We just need to focus harder and make sure all the little things are done right," said Blair.

"Little mistakes mentally and physically really do add up in the end. We need to be prepared especially emotionally before every game," said Dyke.

"We will be just fine when it's all said and done and I know that this struggle will come to an end," said Kelly.