Baseball team turns to tourney
CASSIE PAULSEN, Clarion Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports
"I definitely think we have the talent," said second-year infielder Joe Nartowicz. "We've got some good leadership, guys who have been here before. That should help the younger guys and help us get along - hopefully to the national championship."
Nartowicz and Stone are just a few of a key group of second-year players who have been around the block before - out the Bismarck and down to Iowa for the District series - and felt the pain of losing one game before the World Series. This year, they are hoping to use that pain as motivation to advance.
"It's a dream, no matter what level you're at," said Stone. "To make it to the post season, and then to the big show - the national tournament. To compete to be the best team that year, it's always huge.
"As a second year, to go out with something like that - that's my goal, that's everyone on the teams goal - to make it to the national tournament."
Fellow pitcher Kyle Spurley agrees.
"I think we've worked hard," said Spurley, who is also 3-0 on the mound and holds a 2.38 ERA through 22.2 innings. "I think we're good as a team. We really gel with each other and I think we have what it takes to get to the national championship."
So while the regular season is coming to an end, as well as the junior college careers of 17 members of the 'Pack, this group knows that now is the time to put the pieces together and show the nation what they can do.
"I think the little things - we're just going to stay focused on the fundamentals," said Nartowicz. "Good swings, good at-bats. Pitchers are going to stay focused. We just need to stay in that routine and focus on the little things."
Nartowicz and Stone are just a few of a key group of second-year players who have been around the block before - out the Bismarck and down to Iowa for the District series - and felt the pain of losing one game before the World Series. This year, they are hoping to use that pain as motivation to advance.
"It's a dream, no matter what level you're at," said Stone. "To make it to the post season, and then to the big show - the national tournament. To compete to be the best team that year, it's always huge.
"As a second year, to go out with something like that - that's my goal, that's everyone on the teams goal - to make it to the national tournament."
Fellow pitcher Kyle Spurley agrees.
"I think we've worked hard," said Spurley, who is also 3-0 on the mound and holds a 2.38 ERA through 22.2 innings. "I think we're good as a team. We really gel with each other and I think we have what it takes to get to the national championship."
So while the regular season is coming to an end, as well as the junior college careers of 17 members of the 'Pack, this group knows that now is the time to put the pieces together and show the nation what they can do.
"I think the little things - we're just going to stay focused on the fundamentals," said Nartowicz. "Good swings, good at-bats. Pitchers are going to stay focused. We just need to stay in that routine and focus on the little things."
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