LSC Baseball Season Ends

With the final game of the season being canceled the Lyndon State College baseball team ended their year with 5 victories and 26 losses.

            The baseball season ended on a four-game losing streak, including three losses to conference rivals Husson University. Their 3 and 20 conference record was not enough for them to make the North Atlantic Conference playoffs.

            "It was disappointing to see that we could not improve our record from last season," says junior second baseman Shayne Kirby. The Hornets finished in last place last season with a 6 wins and 22 losses. "I felt that at the beginning of the season, we could be competitive with the rest of the conference, but we just aren't there yet."

            In 31 games Lyndon State could only manage 71 runs, while allowing opponents 229 runs. The combined team batting average for Lyndon State was an embarrassing .222. Opponents batted .344 against the Hornets. Opponents also stole a total of 94 bases against the Hornets. Lyndon State only stole 15 bags all season.

            "Looking at our stats, we clearly have some work to do to compete with the rest of the conference," says catcher Robert Trucott. "It's rather embarrassing to look at."

            While Lyndon had a dismal season it cannot be said that it was a total loss. Newcomer and sophomore shortstop Tyler Pelletier was the team's star player, leading the team in at-bats, batting average, runs, hits, doubles, and runs batted in. Other younger players that significantly contributed to Lyndon's weak hitting attack were sophomore outfielder Dylan Newton and freshman pitcher and infielder James Neal.

            Senior Shane O'Donnell-Leach, who started seven games, winning two of them, led the Hornet's pitching staff. Freshmen Devin Rhodes, Billy Johnson, and James Neal all contributed with a win each. Junior Shane Fleury had the lone save. Lyndon's pitching staff ended the season with an earned run average of 7.27 while their opponent's era against them was only a 2.30.

            "Our team is very young and I believe this season was a learning experience," says pitcher and first baseman Shane Fleury. "Next year will be a new beginning and we know what we have to do to win."

            Next year will be a brand new test for the young Lyndon State Hornets. Their goal is to make it to the NAC playoffs, but in order to that they must be able to compete with the likes of Castleton State College, the leader of the NAC, Husson University, and Thomas. Those schools all played more games than Lyndon State. Castleton played 39 total games winning 26 of them, Thomas also played 39 and won 24, and Husson University played 35 games and won 19 of them.

            The team believes that in order for them to compete with the rest of the conference the answer lies in more games earlier in the season. Castleton went south before the season and played 8 games. Lyndon only played three to prepare for its season.