University Chronicle

Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Prince Rajbhandari Sam Radbil takes a cut at the plate while participating in the SCSU baseball team's tryouts Friday afternoon at Whitney Field.

"Atta boy," barked out head baseball coach Patrick Dolan. "That is what we yell when somebody does something good."

Plenty of "Atta boys" were shouted over the workout session Friday at Whitney Field, as SCSU's baseball team opened their team for walk-on tryouts.

Not just walk-ons but returning players, transfers and anyone else who wanted a chance to play for the Huskies this spring got their turn at the plate.

"We are trying to simulate what a pro try-out would look like," Dolan said. "We have run sprints, test speed and strength."

Last year, the Huskies had a roller coaster season starting it off with former head coach Denny Lorsung's departure. Interim head coach Jason Fischer replaced Lorsung for the remainder of the season, guiding the Huskies to a 16-29 record including their 10-15 NCC record.

They picked up steam late in the season ending on a high note by finishing third in the conference tournament. Senior Ryan Tschida said, "We got some real timely hits in the tournament, a lot of two-out runs were scored."

Tschida was a pitcher as well as outfielder last season, though he prefers the grass under his cleats.

"I was kind of pushed in pitching last season because we had no one else who could." he said.

Coach Dolan seeks to remedy that. He brought in a host of new transfers, as well as some prospect freshmen.

One student athlete is Tim Scott, a sophomore on the field. Scott played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers last season and as a red shirt his first year.

"We are really excited to have a player of his caliber," Dolan said.

"I came here mostly because of coach Dolan. I thought I would get more playing time, and I like the atmosphere a little more," Scott said.

Scott is joined by former teammate Tim Radmacher, a junior pitcher who was with the Cornhuskers when they went to the Collegiate World Series.

Both Radmacher and Scott are native residents of Minnesota who played for Rochester's Northwoods League over the summer, mostly as relief pitchers.

Dolan was not just hounding D-I players to transfer this summer. He was also in charge of regrouping the baseball alumni.

Dolan said, "We put together a golf tournament this summer, to kind of welcome back in the SCSU alumni, to let them know that if they wanted to help out in any way that myself and my coaches were more than willing to let them, not just financially, but any way they can."

The baseball season typically begins in early March, and with a new coach and a fresh set of faces, they are eager to begin.

Tschida is excited about the new coach and new outlook.

"This team has certainly struggled in the past, and I think we're ready to start winning some games," he said.

Even though the air is getting colder, and most baseball fields are getting ready for winter, the Huskies are already longing for the first buds of spring.

With a new crop of transfers to bolster the existing lineup, the Huskies should be hungry to start yelling "Atta boys" at Putz field.

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