Troy University Athletics
One Last Time at Home
5/14/2010 6:00:00 PM | Baseball
The gates of Riddle-Pace Field have seen multitudes of talent pass through. Every player and every coach at Troy has left their respective historical marks on that field in some form or fashion. Sunday marks the last opportunity for 12 Trojan seniors to leave a lasting impression to the hometown fans. It's the last opportunity for those seniors to lace up the cleats for the cardinal clad crowd. The last dives on that unique turf, the last seventh inning stretch with the voice of the Trojans, It all ends Sunday.
These seniors will be honored for their time at Troy on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 before the final home game of the 2010 campaign. Senior day is a special day where family is the focus. Each player's parents come and are recognized with their son. Parents will come from far and wide, from the southern points of Florida and even Japan, to stand next to their son while the Troy family bids them farewell.
"This is a large group of seniors who have done a lot over their careers for our program," Trojans head coach Bobby Pierce said. "We want to send them out the right way with a great crowd on Sunday. We hope the Trojan baseball family will come out and send these guys off in a big way."
Steven Felix, Ryan Ditthardt, Shohei Fujita, Andrew Dickinson, Miles Hoyle, Robby Loew, Bart Pettus, J.R. Myers, Jordan Mathers, Tim Wheeler, Jake Sullivan and Chad Watson have just six games left in their final season, and this weekend will mark their last three at home.
Their goal is achieving post season play, and four of these seniors that have been there before are trying to lead the team back. Felix, Fujita, Pettus and Wheeler are the only four on the tram that have played in NCAA Regionals, and they are looking to make a late season surge for their goal.
"This group has really done a lot for this program for the past two to five years," Pierce said. "They know their work is not done yet as well."
The campaign that is the 2010 season will press on after Sunday, but the home slate of the season will come to a close. There is much to be remembered about this class.
Not many will forget the unmistakable tune that plays when Fujita steps to the plate and his defensive moves on the diamond at Riddle-Pace. Fujita's walk-off hit against Alabama will highlight his career, and he put the Trojans in place to beat Auburn and FIU with big hits this season.
There's also the cannon of an arm in right field from Steven Felix that can make an interesting play on any base runner anywhere on the field. Bart Pettus battling back through injuries and surgeries and still being a contributor is a story that will be remembered. Ditthardt and his ability to leave no doubt about some of his homers will be missed as well. Watson led the league in triples in his junior season, and it seemed he would always get extra bases. Myers contributions defensively have helped to make this team stronger.
There are many stories about this team. Some of the stories have played out on the field and some could be small and only visible in the locker room. Stories of great hits and great friendships will always be remembered about this class.
Dickinson on the mound seems to always get better as the game goes along, and Pierce said his Friday night pitching sets the tone for the staff on the weekend. That has paved the way for Loew, Mathers and the rest of the staff to all equally contribute to winning a series. Wheeler is looking to contribute the rest of the way as well after overcoming a broken jaw.
The key word is contribute, and that's what everyone on this team is working to do.
"Our goal is making it to post-season, and it's going to take contributions from everybody," Pierce said. "These seniors are who is going to have to lead this team to that point. There is plenty yet to play for. The biggest part of the season is in front of us, and we have got some guys starting to swing the bats better. We're looking for an exciting finish to this season. I'm proud to have had the chance to work with these guys."
That is of course the goal of every young man as he walks through the gates at Riddle-Pace, to make his coach proud. Every player wants that big hit when his parents are in the stands. Every player wants to make the big play in front of the home crowd, and every player wants to leave that lasting mark at Riddle-Pace Field. Their last chance is Sunday, and it's a Sunday that came faster than any of them ever could have expected.
