Bearcat baseball program on rebound with new coach
Andre Lockett, Staff Writer, The Rustorian
Issue date: 2/28/09 Section: Sports
The Rust College Bearcats baseball team has a new head coach spearheading them, hopefully into a successful season. Troy Howell, the Lady Bearcats basketball head coach now also doubles as head coach for the baseball and replaces former coach Avery Mason.
He's already taken up the challenge to reshape the baseball program at Rust. Howell said, "I look to improve the teams defense and I want each player's batting average to increase through more extensive practices and player dedication."
The team welcomes two key players from the 2006-2007 season. Seniors Vashun Jackson and Aaron Clark returned to the team after missing the entire last season. Jackson, a 5'9 catcher from Chicago, Ill., led the entire division 3 in stolen bases during the '06-'07 season, while batting at a blistering .457 percent.
Clark, a 6'2 short stop and third baseman from Memphis, Tenn., won the golden glove award for being so sure handed during the '06-'07 season campaign, and held a batting average of a scorching .438 percent.
"I am still suffering from a dislocated left shoulder injury that happened a while back but I am going to play. I miss the game too much. I'll have surgery on it following the conclusion of the season," said Clark. He added that he will help the team win as many games as possible to make the NCAA tournament.
Junior right fielder Rashad Thompson said he's glad to have those guys back. "They bring that extra punch we missed last season and we have a new coach that seems serious about the job he has at hand. It's going to be great."
The team finished last season with a record of 10-14 and most players felt they would have finished .500 or better if it wasn't for game cancellation. Howell emphasized he wants leadership from all his seniors and that there will be a mandatory study period in which the team must meet in the library daily. The team is slated to play Lemoyne Owen College, March 4, and with ample amount of time to tweak any lose ends to obtain a victory over the Magicians.
He's already taken up the challenge to reshape the baseball program at Rust. Howell said, "I look to improve the teams defense and I want each player's batting average to increase through more extensive practices and player dedication."
The team welcomes two key players from the 2006-2007 season. Seniors Vashun Jackson and Aaron Clark returned to the team after missing the entire last season. Jackson, a 5'9 catcher from Chicago, Ill., led the entire division 3 in stolen bases during the '06-'07 season, while batting at a blistering .457 percent.
Clark, a 6'2 short stop and third baseman from Memphis, Tenn., won the golden glove award for being so sure handed during the '06-'07 season campaign, and held a batting average of a scorching .438 percent.
"I am still suffering from a dislocated left shoulder injury that happened a while back but I am going to play. I miss the game too much. I'll have surgery on it following the conclusion of the season," said Clark. He added that he will help the team win as many games as possible to make the NCAA tournament.
Junior right fielder Rashad Thompson said he's glad to have those guys back. "They bring that extra punch we missed last season and we have a new coach that seems serious about the job he has at hand. It's going to be great."
The team finished last season with a record of 10-14 and most players felt they would have finished .500 or better if it wasn't for game cancellation. Howell emphasized he wants leadership from all his seniors and that there will be a mandatory study period in which the team must meet in the library daily. The team is slated to play Lemoyne Owen College, March 4, and with ample amount of time to tweak any lose ends to obtain a victory over the Magicians.
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