• About
  • Advertising
  • History
  • Staff
  • Contact

The Andersonian

The Anderson University Student Newspaper

Anderson University’s Student Newspaper

  • Campus News
  • Audio
  • Features
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
  • COVID-19
You are here: Home / Sports / Ravens set to begin HCAC play on high note

Ravens set to begin HCAC play on high note

March 28, 2018 by Alec Brown

Sitting at 11-10 and with conference play set to begin, the baseball team has a great deal of potential to rack up accomplishments this season.

“We have played the competition that will prepare us for conference games,” explained Coach Matt Bair. “The Florida trip gave us a sense of understanding that we can compete at the highest level. We are definitely trending in the right direction.”

A difficult non-conference schedule and a 10-game stand in the RussMatt Central Florida Central Invitational coupled with a heavy focus on fundamentals has the team sitting with high                aspirations.

The focus on fundamentals has paid off.

Anderson has three players hitting over .400: Branton Sanders, Nick Butcher and Brooks Bireley.

Butcher currently leads all of Division III in doubles with 13 and has already been named HCAC Hitter of the Week for his performance in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

Sanders has been limited to 13 games due to injury but has still managed to drive in 19 runs.

Adam Paschal sits just behind those three with a .390 batting average, but carries a team high .513 on-base percentage.

“Instead of trying to take a nine-inning game as a whole,” said Coach Bair, “we want to win every pitch and every inning. That will create a focus that eventually at the end of a game will bring us out on top.”

Of the 41 players on the roster, 31 are freshmen and sophomores. The youth hasn’t affected the team negatively in any way. Bair explained that each player, regardless of class, is going out and playing the role they are being asked to play.

Upperclassmen like Butcher and Sanders anchor the lineup, but many of the younger players have been huge in both the bullpen and rotation.

In addition to 15 appearances in the field, Nick Jones has thrown six times for Anderson, posting a 4-0 record and a 0.00 earned run average in 13.2 innings of work.

All throughout the lineup, some freshmen and sophomores that have been key contributors. Paschal has hit in the three-hole while playing multiple defensive positions.

Jonathan Willoughby holds a .333 batting average and has driven in 14 from the cleanup spot while playing virtually error-free baseball at third base.

Joe Moran and Andrew Rolfsen are both sophomores posting sub-three earned run averages and have also contributed defensively and at the plate.

With such solid performances being posted from both experienced and inexperienced Ravens alike, there are high hopes for this conference season.

The Ravens wil travel to Indianapolis tonight for a date with NCAA Division I Butler in a game that was pushed back a day due to weather. They will kick off HCAC play this weekend with two games at Don Brandon Field against Defiance.

“We have two pieces of the puzzle to be a conference champion,” said Coach Bair. “We have skilled players and we have a great culture. Now the third piece is to go out and execute.”

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Sports

Watch

Jacey Crawford discusses the latest developments on campus, including the creation of a new musical.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Miles Morey discusses this week’s sports highlights.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Video

Listen

Raven Watch 2020-12-07

On this episode of the Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan is joined by former Big Ten Player of the Year and Indiana Pacer Clark Kellogg as they discuss displaying your faith in sports, Clark’s career as a player and broadcaster and his game of “H.O.R.S.E.” with President Obama.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-12-03

On this episode, Jordan Yaney sits down with senior soccer player Drew Sonnefeldt to discuss his soccer career, trips to Europe, hobbies, and dreams of playing professional soccer

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-24

In the third Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Hannah Hawkins, a senior basketball player, about starting her freshman year 0-25, becoming more of a leader on the team and facing their one-on-one battle on the court freshman year. Thanks to our sponsor, the Folgate Agency. Please contact Steve Folgate for Allstate insurance and […]

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-18

In the second-ever Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Kennedy Parker, a senior baseball player, about finding out last season was canceled while the team was in Florida, why he decided to come back for a fifth year and play and what he expects out of this year’s team.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Audio

Follow

andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
2 Mar

Check out this week's video:

Reply on Twitter 1366814559072321537Retweet on Twitter 13668145590723215376Like on Twitter 136681455907232153711Twitter 1366814559072321537
Retweet on TwitterAndersonian Retweeted
AURavenWatchRaven Watch@AURavenWatch·
24 Feb

New Raven Watch is up now!

Tune in for highlights from this weekend’s basketball games, Rocket League playoffs, a volleyball update and more.

https://andersonian.com/2021/02/23/raven-watch-2021-02-23/

@AthleticsAU @andersonian @AURavensMBB @AURavensWBB @AUesports_ @Volleyball_AU @AndersonU @MilesMorey

Reply on Twitter 1364389375136714755Retweet on Twitter 13643893751367147554Like on Twitter 13643893751367147555Twitter 1364389375136714755
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
18 Feb

The AU Rocket League team has found success in their inaugural season.
Read more:
https://andersonian.com/2021/02/08/rocket-league-has-success-in-its-first-year/

Reply on Twitter 1362432324919517185Retweet on Twitter 13624323249195171851Like on Twitter 13624323249195171853Twitter 1362432324919517185
Load More...

The Andersonian, the student newspaper of Anderson University, Anderson, Ind., publishes a print edition and maintains this website. As a matter of institutional policy, the University administration does not review or edit Andersonian content prior to publication. The student editors are responsible for both print and online content. While the administration recognizes the role of the student press on a college campus and in journalism education, the views expressed in the Andersonian are not necessarily those of Anderson University.

© Andersonian 2017, All rights reserved · Site by Mere
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.