After wrapping up one of its better seasons in recent memory on Thursday with a loss against the University of New Hampshire (UNH), the club baseball team is now looking ahead to the fall with hopes of both improving and expanding.
Playing in the New England Club Baseball Association, the squad competes against UNH, Trinity, Maine, Boston College and Connecticut's Three Rivers Community College and plays its home games at Boston College's Cassidy Park. Occasionally, the players travel to New Hampshire to compete on the UNH campus.
According to members of the team, this year's 5?6 record marks one of the best finishes in recent club history. Sophomore G.J. Vitale, who is also a staff writer for the Daily and played baseball at the varsity level until February, said the season was also memorable for reasons other than just the won?lost record.
"We started off the year 2?0, which I heard is rare," Vitale laughed. "But more importantly, we had a strong turnout for almost every game, with 11 or 12 kids usually showing up to play. The enthusiasm is definitely there."
The turnout is particularly impressive considering that the team held only one organized practice during the entire season and that there are no coaches. While roughly 20 players are on the roster, many on that list have never shown up.
"We are definitely more laid back than some of the other teams," Vitale said. "New Hampshire and Boston College take it a lot more seriously. But then again, they have much bigger schools and probably more kids willing to make the commitment. They also have coaches and a stronger talent level."
"There are some kids that take it a little more seriously," freshman Jack Zurier added. "It largely depends on the time of involvement. The upperclassmen are a little more invested. Also, we don't have a coach, so I think a lot of people see that as a reason not to take it seriously."
Accordingly, the talent level is, at times, lacking. Vitale explained that he pitched four games this year, going the distance in all of them and posting a 0.81 ERA. His record in those four games? 1?3. Clearly, runs were hard to come by.
"To my knowledge, there is nobody other than myself who was playing varsity and is now playing club," Vitale said. "Most of these kids are former high school players who just want to get out and play the game they love."
While an infusion of talent would be preferable, it is difficult for Tier II club sports to attract many players due to time and money constraints. Tier II teams are permitted to compete under the Tufts University name, but are not guaranteed any funding or space. In contrast, Tier I club sports receive both funding and space for practices, games and scrimmages.
Simply put, Tier II teams are largely on their own, with players forced to take the initiative in terms of traveling to games and ensuring attendance.
"Right now it's very casual, and we want to keep it that way," Vitale said. "But at the same time, getting a coach and having more participation would go a long way to helping us become a Tier I club sport."
Though there are not currently any coaching prospects on the horizon, the team hopes that, as the players become more committed, the job becomes more appealing. In addition, Vitale and Zurier hope that, by the time they graduate, the team will have grown considerably.
Vitale, for his part, believes club baseball has given him a new perspective on the game.
"I've played baseball all my life, and it's always been for a purpose, it's always been serious," Vitale said. "But playing at the club level really brings you back to the root of baseball and reminds you that it's just about having a good time, getting out on the field, smiling and enjoying the game that you love. I got to know a ton of people and made a bunch of friends from this team, and I realize I'm a lucky kid to have the opportunity to do this."
