Tony's Take 10

Dominating. Powerful. Winners. Those are the three words I think of when someone mentions Franklin Pierce Baseball. But those three words do not apply to the 2008 Franklin Pierce team. Until this season, I do not ever remember the Ravens losing at Pappas Field. But this season, the Ravens have already lost eight times at home. Is this the same team that Baseball America predicted to finish number two in the nation? As of April 30, they were not even the number two team in the Northeast-10 Conference. They were placed fourth in the NE-10 with a 33-12 (18-10 NE-10) record. Well what's the problem? Did the conference just get a lot better in one year or did the Ravens just lose too many senior leaders last season? I think it's the health of the Ravens who are relying on younger, inexperienced players to carry this team to a championship. When the Ravens were healthy they won. They started the season off with an outstanding 22-3 record. Everyone was hitting. Everyone was healthy. Since then, senior captain Matt Anderson hurt his leg and can not play the catchers position. Other senior captain Steve Carr missed time with ankle injury, and the Ravens are still missing All-American pitcher Arric Mather who ended his season and career with an elbow injury. Unlike at the beginning of the season when everyone in the lineup was hitting, the Ravens now only have five batters hitting over .300. They also have had trouble finding everyday position players. Who is the starting left fielder? Is it Tyler Bishop or Kyle Cabral or Derek Ingui? Is the starting first baseman Steve Carr or Randy Bernosky? With Anderson injured from the catching position, who takes over behind the plate, is it Ted Lerud, Jacob Ferreira, or Steve Carr? Is the starting third baseman Cliff Hicks or Ingui? Until Coach King decides on an everyday starting lineup, this team will have trouble finding an identity. I do have a lot of faith in this team; I just hate to see them struggle. Although they are in a major slump, losing five of their last ten games as of April 30, they can still will win the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament and have success in the NCAA Tournament. This team is still searching for consistency. They are still searching for their momentum and when they find it they will run with it. I know they will shape back up into their normal selves and will finally be dominant, powerful, winners again.