The Rogers State University Hillcat baseball team has scheduled a series of fall scrimmages and games against area college teams in preparation for a more extensive spring schedule.
The Hillcats this fall played scrimmages against Northern Oklahoma College-Enid, Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and Connors State College.
The Hillcats next travel to Tahlequah on Sept. 30 and Oct. 2 to compete in the Northeastern (Okla.) State University Fall Classic. On Friday, Sept. 30, they play Northern Oklahoma College at 11:00 a.m. and NSU at 4:30 p.m. The Hillcats will play Carl Albert State College at noon on Sunday, Oct. 2.
In 2004, RSU initiated a baseball club that provided an opportunity for students to compete against regional baseball club teams and university teams. Earlier this year, RSU began pursuing opportunities to have its softball and baseball teams intercollegiately. On Sept. 26, RSU was accepted to begin competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
RSU baseball coach Ron Bradley said he is pleased with the development of his team.
“In a short period of time, I think that we have established a solid foundation for developing a really good program here at RSU that will provide a lot of excitement for the students and the community,” he said.
The baseball team will complete their fall schedule by scrimmaging Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Okla., at noon, Saturday, Oct. 8.
The RSU baseball team is fielding 29 players with a variety of high school and junior college experience. The roster, listed by position, classification and high school, with college experience noted in parentheses, includes:
Jake Brumble, second base/shortstop, junior, Jenks (Hutchinson Community College); Kyle Bruner, second base/shortstop, junior, Claremore; Eric Bunch, senior, catcher/outfielder, Collinsville (Labette Community College); Dusty Carriger, left-handed pitcher, junior, Claremore Sequoyah (Cowley Community College); Jonathan Carnes, freshman, shortstop/outfielder, Glenpool; Chris Castle, junior, third base/right-handed pitcher, Claremore (Connors State College); Patrick Fisher, sophomore, left-handed pitcher, Broken Arrow (Coffeyville Community College); Daniel Goodwin, senior, right-handed pitcher, Claremore (St. Gregory’s University); Dustin Gunnells, junior, right-handed pitcher, Claremore Sequoyah (Coffeyville Community College); Travis Harold, sophomore, outfielder, Oologah; Bryan Hollenbeck, junior, right-handed pitcher, Collinsville (Cowley Community College); Brett Hollingsworth, sophomore, first-base, Pryor; Anthony Hurst, freshman, outfielder, Owasso; Timon Johnson, sophomore, outfielder, Union; Jamie Johnston, sophomore, right-handed pitcher, Oologah; Jesse Johnston, sophomore, second base, Oologah; Austin Jones, senior, left-handed pitcher, Kaufman, Texas (Coffeyville Community College); Todd Koscheski, senior, first base, Claremore (Coffeyville Community College); David Munoz, sophomore, right-handed pitcher, Tulsa Memorial; Trent Patterson, freshman, outfielder, Broken Arrow; Lance Powers, junior, outfielder/shortstop, Guthrie (Connors State College); Jerad Rodriguez, sophomore, outfielder, Coweta; Corey Ryder, junior, catcher/third base, Collinsville (Labette Community College); Blake Sunderland, junior, third base, Coweta (Labette Community College); Zach Taylor, junior, right-handed pitcher, Bishop Kelley (New Mexico Military Academy); Andrew Tomlinson, freshman, outfielder, Skiatook; Laramie Wildermuth, sophomore, first base, Pryor (Connors State College); Matt Williamson, senior, right-handed pitcher, Sperry (Coffeyville Community College); and Matt York, freshman, left-handed pitcher, Claremore.
A more extensive schedule is planned for the spring semester with games against NSU, Southern Nazarene University, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Hillsdale Free Will Baptist, St. Gregory’s, Oklahoma City University and more.
“Last year, our schedule consisted of a wide mix of college and junior college teams playing in a variety of divisions,” Bradley said. “This year, our schedule will be more in line with what a four-year university would ordinarily play. And I think that the fans can look forward to an exciting spring.”
Bradley, who joined RSU in 2003 as director of physical education, has coached the RSU baseball team since its inception. He is a member of the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and led four teams to win state baseball championships while at Claremore, Jenks and West Fork (Ark.) high schools. Robert Brown, a former assistant coach at Radford University, returns this season as an assistant coach. Aaron Gentry is serving as a volunteer assistant coach and Wes Vrska is serving as a student assistant.
For more information on RSU Hillcat baseball, call (918) 343-7782.