Baseball springs back to SBU
Jake Sonner
Issue date: 3/19/10 Section: Sports
With the weather taking a semi-tropical turn out of the dreary days of the western New York winter, spring may have finally sprung on the grounds of St. Bonaventure - excluding the inevitable snow flurries that have yet to rear their ugly head.
As the birds return from their southern vacations and green grass returns to campus, the boys of summer and America's national pastime experience their own revival at St. Bonaventure.
Like a great starting pitcher, the men's basketball team eats up the cold, wintry innings, and like a great closer, the baseball team finishes out the milder spring innings outside in the sun.
The baseball team got its home schedule underway Wednesday with a doubleheader against Niagara. The Bonnies dropped both games, 9-6 and 16-14, in front of 399 fans decked in festive green.
Whether the game ends on a winning or losing note, baseball is St. Bonaventure sports fans' spring pastime.
In the spring afternoons, pings of balls being driven off metal bats echoes across campus from practices and games at Fred Handler Park. Classrooms in Plassmann Hall with their windows cracked open are treated to calls like "Up next," and "On the mound for the Bonnies," from the PA announcer at the ballpark and loud music.
But the team is more than just a pastime. Elements of the team and its home field represent the university as a whole.
The gorgeous field features a breathtaking view (the best on campus) of the Allegheny Mountains and of Merton's Heart over the right field fence.
"Any time it's mid-March, and you're playing outside on a beautiful sunny day on a beautiful field, that's awesome," coach Larry Sudbrook said. "Being out here is just fantastic."
The unique 'bleacher' seats are nothing more than a grass embankment down the third base line for students and fans to recline on. Student fans outfit truck beds with couches for higher-end 'box' seating.
"Our crowds have always been great here (and) the students have always supported us tremendously," Sudbrook said. "In coaches' meetings, other teams talk about how they should quiet down the people at St. Bonaventure because they're 'so rowdy.' It's a great home-field advantage."
The familiar atmosphere that is so prominent on St. Bonaventure's campus is also represented on the baseball team.
Sudbrook has coached the team through 25 years and 508 wins. Both his sons, Shane and Cory, played on the team he manages, and Cory picked up the save in his 500th win as manager.
Junior pitcher Cael Johnson is the brother of former women's swimmer Anneli Johnson and current women's swimming coach Seth Johnson.
More than any other sport on campus, the Bonnies represent all the reasons to root for the small Catholic school in the hills.
The baseball team returns to Fred Handler Park to play another doubleheader Big 4 rival Buffalo Tuesday, March 30 at 2 and 5 p.m.
Quality 'bleacher seats' are always available when the weather holds out.
e-mail: sonnerjs@sbu.edu
As the birds return from their southern vacations and green grass returns to campus, the boys of summer and America's national pastime experience their own revival at St. Bonaventure.
Like a great starting pitcher, the men's basketball team eats up the cold, wintry innings, and like a great closer, the baseball team finishes out the milder spring innings outside in the sun.
The baseball team got its home schedule underway Wednesday with a doubleheader against Niagara. The Bonnies dropped both games, 9-6 and 16-14, in front of 399 fans decked in festive green.
Whether the game ends on a winning or losing note, baseball is St. Bonaventure sports fans' spring pastime.
In the spring afternoons, pings of balls being driven off metal bats echoes across campus from practices and games at Fred Handler Park. Classrooms in Plassmann Hall with their windows cracked open are treated to calls like "Up next," and "On the mound for the Bonnies," from the PA announcer at the ballpark and loud music.
But the team is more than just a pastime. Elements of the team and its home field represent the university as a whole.
The gorgeous field features a breathtaking view (the best on campus) of the Allegheny Mountains and of Merton's Heart over the right field fence.
"Any time it's mid-March, and you're playing outside on a beautiful sunny day on a beautiful field, that's awesome," coach Larry Sudbrook said. "Being out here is just fantastic."
The unique 'bleacher' seats are nothing more than a grass embankment down the third base line for students and fans to recline on. Student fans outfit truck beds with couches for higher-end 'box' seating.
"Our crowds have always been great here (and) the students have always supported us tremendously," Sudbrook said. "In coaches' meetings, other teams talk about how they should quiet down the people at St. Bonaventure because they're 'so rowdy.' It's a great home-field advantage."
The familiar atmosphere that is so prominent on St. Bonaventure's campus is also represented on the baseball team.
Sudbrook has coached the team through 25 years and 508 wins. Both his sons, Shane and Cory, played on the team he manages, and Cory picked up the save in his 500th win as manager.
Junior pitcher Cael Johnson is the brother of former women's swimmer Anneli Johnson and current women's swimming coach Seth Johnson.
More than any other sport on campus, the Bonnies represent all the reasons to root for the small Catholic school in the hills.
The baseball team returns to Fred Handler Park to play another doubleheader Big 4 rival Buffalo Tuesday, March 30 at 2 and 5 p.m.
Quality 'bleacher seats' are always available when the weather holds out.
e-mail: sonnerjs@sbu.edu
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