Nationally-ranked Warriors carving name for themselves on baseball diamond
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Rochester College has never really been known for its baseball success. A small college in a northern state, the odds are usually stacked against the Warriors.
The tides are slowly turning.
In the first week of April, Rochester College is standing at 10-10, with many games against NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III schools. The Warriors already own a 6-3 victory over D-I Oakland University, and that came after RC climbed to No. 7 in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association polls.
“I don’t know if they have ever been ranked. We were 10-27 in my first year here and only 16-32 last season,” offered Jordan Ackerman, the Warriors’ third-year head coach. “I think we’ll easily pass last year’s win total.”
Rochester College, which has been an independent in athletics since the mid-1980s, plays a wide variety of schools. Without a conference schedule, the main goal is to improve enough to reach the USCAA national tournament in May.
The Warriors have the pitching to get them to that point. The pitching staff currently has a 3.43 ERA, one of the best in the USCAA.
Sophomore Hunter Reams (Rochester High) leads the nation with a 0.78 ERA and 2-0 record. Johnny Barreto follows with a 0.91 ERA. Senior Andy Mulder and junior Caleb Tift (Auburn Hills Avondale) are also key performers from the mound, with Tift posting an ERA just over 3.00.
“Hunter is turning out to be a fine pitcher,” said Ackerman. He and Barreto give us a nice 1-2 punch in our rotation.”
The other half of the battery is Anthony Martinez (Waterford Mott), a sure-handed defensive catcher.
“Anthony is solid behind the plate. He’s the guy you ant back there,” said Ackerman.
Nathan Billings (White Lake Lakeland), Anthony Incarnati and David Woodson are all batting over .325, with Incarnati leading the way at .391.
Freshman Mike Rau (Rochester) has also been a key contributor on a roster of 34 players.
“We have brought in some good recruits the past couple of years. Not just local guys, but guys from all over (the country),” said Ackerman. “I think that is going to help us a lot.”
Rochester College plays at Ohio-Zanesville this weekend as it will try to add to its win total.
“I feel we’re on the right track. We’ve lost some games that we’ve should’ve won —that’s baseball,” added Ackerman. “I think that if we can get on a roll, then we could make the national tournament. I feel like with our talent and schedule, that’s a realistic goal for us.”
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Category: Campus Clips, Colleges / Other, Featured Articles, Rochester College
