Post #5 Home Series vs. Fort Hays

The first home series was this weekend at Falley Field! It was a gorgeous weekend for some baseball. The weekend rival was Fort Hays State.  The Bods fell in the home opener at 7-5 but came back in the second game with a total of 13 hits making Friday’s double header a split with the second game’s score being  8-3. Saturday’s festivities began with Corey Gragg hitting a walk off RBI in extra innings to win the game 7-6, but came up short in the second game losing 5-4. The Ichabods are currently 9-8 overall and 9-7 in the MIAA. Although one would say these were not the prettiest wins that could have possibly happened,  a win is still a win. Pitching was fairly solid but our hitting had room for improvement this weekend. For the first home series, I would conclude that our level of play will only continue to improve throughout the season. As for this coming week, spring break has given the Ichabods an opportunity to put all of their focus on the next away series at Pittsburgh State.

Post #4 Preparation

The Ichabods had the entire week off from games due to weather conditions but are currently on their way to Missouri Western State University as I am writing this. This week was not as beneficial as hoped due to the weather as most days were spent practicing indoors, but they were able to get some decent practice time in on the field towards the end of the week. The coaches are wanting to see some improvement in a select number of our hitters, and this weekend would be the time to show what they have worked all season on improving. We will see if their preparation will be enough as they go up against the defending MIAA champions in this short Sunday Monday series followed by a non-conference game against Emporia State on Tuesday. Check out my blog next week for the results of these games, as well as our first home series against Fort Hayes!

Post #3: Washburn vs. University of Central Oklahoma

The Washburn Ichabods traveled to Edmond, Oklahoma this weekend  to face off against the UCO Bronchos in a four game series. It was a beautiful weekend for baseball with temperatures reaching around 60 degrees!
The Bods walked away from this team defeated last season and were determined to come back strong. They ended up splitting the double-header on Thursday by winning in extra innings. It was a great day for the Bods and a big confidence boost for the players at that. Friday and Saturday however were a different story. The Broncos did some damage by earning nine runs in the final four innings bringing a final score of 12-2 on Friday. Saturday the bods gave up six runs in the last two innings bringing the game to an end at 11-2. After talking to the assistant coaches, it was clear that not only did our hitting suffer this weekend, but it appeared that the team was playing more to avoid mistakes than to be the game changer. It was stated that in order for this team to not have a repeat of last season, more preparation is needed before the Bods face their next opponent this coming week. Although it is still early in the season, there could not be a better time for these boys to crack down and make adjustments in order to have a succesful season. It's time for the Ichabods to come together not only in good times, but to help each other through the rough patches and recover quickly.
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Post #2 Washburn vs. Lindenwood

Washburn traveled to St. Charles, MO this weekend due to the rain to face off with the Lindenwood Lions. The Bods split the doubleheader on Friday. The Lions were able to come back in the first game winning 5-2 but the Bods took the second game holding it 1-0. Brett Ash, a senior pitcher, started the opener and came off with an unearned run off of three hits with a total of six strikeouts. The last two innings of the first game gave Lindenwood a three run lead leaving the Ichabods with some errors to clear up for the second game.

Taylor Gentry, a senior pitcher, started the second game only giving up one run with eight total strikeouts for the first five innings of the game. The Bods came out responding with some strong hitting from David Gauntt, who went 3-3 and Matt Jackson, who scored the only run of the game.

Day two of the series the opener was tied at 3-3 before the Ichabods got two sacrifice hits to win in a walk-off with the final score being 4-3. In the second game, the Ichabods were behind 4-2 but by the bottom of the seventh inning, they scored five runs. Seven more were plated in the eighth by some astounding hits which  then invoked the 10 run rule. Coach Alberts stated, "This team in incredibly fun to watch this year, everyone knows their role and I think we started off this season on a great note."

Post #1 Expectations

Welcome to my blog everyone! I am so excited to introduce you to the Washburn Ichabods baseball team of 2014. We have some new talent and recovered players back on board and I am anxious to get this spring season started! Coming from a record of 11-33 last season, the team is coming out very positive and prepared to prove how good of a team they can be.

I talked to our two student assistant coaches and former players of the Ichabods in 2013, Brad Alberts and Richard Swan, about what to expect to see from the players this season. Coach Brad Alberts stated, “I want to see a better overall team mentality from these guys, we need to see some players to step up as leaders.”  Senior pitcher, Brett Ash, will be coming back this season after sitting out last season from a partially torn shoulder labrum. Both coaches agreed that they expected great things from him as a leader and a player. These athletes have been battling for a starting position since the beginning of the fall. Coach Richard Swan stated, “It is anybody’s game, it is just a matter of who has the skill and is able to leave it all out on the field every time. This is their chance to prove what they can do as athletes.”

The spring season will officially begin with a home series this weekend against Lindenwood in which we went 1-2 last season. Look for my next post to see the Ichabods give it their all this weekend and begin the battle for a winning season!