Bearcats sweep Fisk with solid pitching


Thursday, March 27, 2008
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Bearcats sweep Fisk with solid pitching

Coach Avery Mason

The Rust College baseball Bearcats beat Fisk 15-1 and 13-3 last week to improve their Division III record to 2-2 on the season.

They were led by another stellar pitching performance from junior hurler Marcus Brown (2-1) of Greenwood.

“I wasn’t surprised with the performance of Brown,” said head coach Avery K. Mason. “He pitched a complete game in the win against the Bulldogs of Nashville, giving up no earned runs. I’ve asked the pitching staff to put the game on their shoulders every time they take the mound and they have responded.”

The proof was again evident in the second game of the day, when sophomore Victor McCarter of Artesia started rocky, giving up a first inning solo homer and a couple of runs off errors in the second. However, Rust scored nine runs in the bottom of the second to give McCarter the confidence needed to close the door. He struck out eight after the rough start.

Mason said it’s nice to be .500 in Division III heading into the heart of the schedule with pitchers healthy and gaining confidence every game.

“We are getting quality pitching but our team defense has struggled to help secure victories late in games,” he said. “We must make the basic plays 85 to 90 percent of the time instead of 40 to 50 percent of the chances we have to make plays in order to become a sound ball club.”

However, in the last three games, all in Division III, Mason said the Bearcats have displayed a better approach defensively, making more than 70 percent of the plays to back the pitchers.

“The best defense was offense against Fisk, which allowed our pitchers to rest,” he said.

The Bearcats hammered Fisk for 27 hits in the doubleheader to score 28 runs on the day and improve to 3-7-1 on the season.

Interview with Coach Mason

• What is your favorite moment of coaching baseball at Rust?

“It had to come from the 2003 season, when we defeated Division 1-AA Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1-0 in Pine Bluff and having our star player drafted by the Seattle Mariners. During the draft process, I met a lot of important personnel in Major League Baseball, attending private workouts for draftees. One in particular was Walt Jockey of the St. Louis Cardinals, while watching my player, James Hymon, run the fastest times at AutoZone Park in Memphis. There were plenty of others to mention, but these events made me feel like a celebrity.”

• What is your favorite part of the game?

“Pushing the right buttons for success. With runners on first and second with one out and we are down one run in the bottom of the seventh inning with the crowd cheering, and I send the base runners in motion and the batter comes through with the game-winning hit. That’s my favorite part, because it gives you that instant feeling of success.”

• Who is your favorite player in professional baseball?

“My favorite player has to be starting shortstop Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. He brings a professional approach to the game of baseball every day and he is a proven leader.”

• What are your goals for the rest of the 2008 season?

“To finish the season with a .500 or better winning percentage. Most importantly, to keep the team together for next season, because we have a young nucleus with no seniors. A strong finish this season could serve as the motivation we need to become a Division III program on the rise.”

Rust’s next game was set for Wednesday, March 26, versus Birmingham-Southern, which is 10-12 on the season.

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