Coach says club’s performance provides momentum for spring schedule
The newly formed Rogers State University Baseball Club beat Murray State College and Northeastern (Okla.) State University during the NSU Fall Classic this weekend in Tahlequah.
RSU opened the event on Friday with a 12-8 loss to Independence Community College, and then turned around to defeat Murray State 7-4 on Friday. On Sunday, RSU won 7-6 against NSU by holding off the host team’s last inning rally. In the final game, RSU narrowly lost to NEO on a score of 9-8 when they were unable to bring home runners who were in scoring position in the final inning.
“I felt the kids and our program really gained respect in the way we played and competed, especially for a team that has only been together for a few months,” said Ron Bradley, RSU’s physical education director who coaches the club. “By competing well against colleges that have veteran programs, I think this will provide us with great momentum going into the spring schedule.”
RSU established a baseball club in spring 2003 in order to provide additional extra-curricular activities for students, promote physical fitness and provide a forum for building teamwork and other interpersonal skills outside the classroom. This fall, the club fielded 27 new members from area junior college and high schools.
“I’ve been very pleased with the progress the club has made so far,” said Bradley. “I didn’t dream that we’d be this fall along this quickly.”
This fall, the RSU baseball club competed in scrimmages against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College, St. Gregory’s University, Labette Community College, Northern Oklahoma College-Enid, and Independence Community College.
A more extensive schedule is planned for the spring semester with scrimmages planned against Labette, NSU, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Hillsdale Baptist, NEO, Southern Nazarene University, CASC, Tabor College, NOC-Enid, the University of Texas-Tyler, Coffeyville Community College and the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Four dates are planned for Claremore’s American Legion Park, with one date each at Oologah, Owasso and Pryor. Spring action is scheduled to begin in late February.
“This will be a really fun schedule for these guys to play because we’ll be going against established teams from a variety of different competitive levels,” Bradley said about the schedule, which includes six junior colleges as well as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and III.
For more information on RSU club sports, contact Bradley at (918) 343-7787.