EMORY, Va. – The spring 2020 season of intercollegiate athletics is one that most certainly will be remembered. Unfortunately, it will not be the excitement of competition, the camaraderie between teammates that leads to lifelong friendships or the pride which comes from representing one's school that will be remembered. The memory will be that the season was cut short. Cut short by a thing so small, but one that has made a huge impact on our world as we know it.
The Emory & Henry College Department of Athletics will take pause over the next four weeks to reflect on these uncompleted spring seasons and look at what was, what might have been and what will be going forward. Some sports were in the middle of their seasons on Friday, March 13 when play was suspended. Others had barely gotten started.
Today, we continue our review with Baseball.
Under the direction of 16th-year Head Coach Trey McCall, Emory & Henry is assisted by Chip Schaffner, John Kuczko and Dustin Howell. The Wasps posted a 5-9 record in the young season, having played just two contests in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action. The Wasps were well on their way to a strong year in the ever-challenging ODAC averaging 5.4 runs per game, and winning four of six non-conference contests before starting league play. With leadership coming from its eight seniors, the team was taking advantage of its depth and also getting significant contributions from its underclassmen.
RELATED - ODAC Baseball Spring Wrap-Up
"The most definitive aspect of this team was it's competitiveness," said senior catcher Caleb Wallace. "The guys came to practice every day with the intent of getting better, and if that meant beating each other, so be it. There was strong senior leadership, but a young core of talent that has left Emory in a promising position entering the next few years, with a really high ceiling and some quality guys. Our team, win or lose, was rock solid because we relied on principles of accountability and trust, which allowed us to handle adversity well. I believe every guy in the dugout had the other's back, and that's huge when you are going to battle with the team in the other dugout."
E&H opened the season with adversity on its trip to Berry College, with rain forcing its three-game set to be reduced to a doubleheader and Saturday's competition washed out. The next weekend, the Wasps visited Covenant College and responded to a pair of losses with a 13-4 win in the final game of the series. Emory & Henry played its first home games on Saturday, February 22, hosting Mount St. Joseph University. The Wasps grinded out a 4-3, 10-inning victory to start the afternoon and completed the sweep with a 12-1 drubbing of the Lions.
RELATED - 2020 Schedule
"We showed a lot of promise this year," added junior first baseman Joe Tolone. "The seniors stepped up in a big way, and as a team we made a lot of progress. The commitment to this team makes me excited for what we can do in the future."
Emory & Henry pushed its streak to four games, defeating Johnson University, 6-4, in a mid-week road contest. Back at home, the Wasps split its final non-conference doubleheader with SUNY Fredonia with an 8-5 win in game two. Holding an even 5-5 record, E&H experienced setbacks in its final four games before play was halted on Friday, March 13. The team's only league action came against No. 34 Shenandoah University.
"This season was comparable to a roller coaster," added senior pitcher Toby Robson. "It was full of ups and downs leading to the eventual cancellation of the season. I wish it wouldn't have ended, but life is full of unexpected occurrences that we have to adapt to. Baseball is, and always will be, the greatest game on the planet."
RELATED - 2020 Statistics
Junior infielder Caleb Haynes (Covington, Va.) led the team in batting (.435),on-base percentage (.527), runs scored (16) and walks (seven). Senior outfielder Chandler Kezele (Marshall, Va.) posted a team-best 22 hits, nine doubles, 17 RBI and a .630 slugging average. Senior Alex Laws (Hudson, N.C.) went 2-0 with a save in six relief appearances and registered the squad's top ERA (3.60). Junior Noah Griffin (Fort Mill, S.C.) also won a pair of games, pitching a team-best 22.1 innings while freshman Cameron Mullins (Rocky Mount, Va.) led the Wasps with 17 strikeouts.
"We had a great group of guys at the helm this season to put in work and play baseball," commented Kezele, who intends to use the NCAA's season waiver and return for the 2021 season. "I'm Looking forward to going out and giving the competition a run for their money next year."
The 2020 season left 23 games to be played including 20 ODAC contests. The Wasps would have faced No. 38 Randolph-Macon College on Saturday, March 14 for its second-straight weekend against a nationally-ranked opponent. McCall shares the hunger of his players and already has his eyes set on fall ball and the 2021 season.
"This team showed great chemistry during our non-conference schedule leading up to ODAC play," echoed McCall. "I believe we still had more in the tank since we had a couple players who had not been able to play. The team had great leadership with our senior class and I look forward to the improvement of the players coming back."
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