By Staff
DONALDSON, Ind.- The lingering snow storms sweeping across the Midwest have kept Ancilla College's baseball team from taking the field, but head coach Rockie Dodds hopes that will change, and soon.
This year's team consists of 30 men from around the state and from across the country. While most of the team members are Hoosiers, Troy Anderson comes from Florida, and Cory Rawls joins the team from Carrollton, Tex. Closer to home, Brooks Bonner is from Niles. Bonner returns to the Chargers spring roster, along with Mark Doan (Mishawaka), Rob Butler (Kokomo), P.J. Rocchio (Kokomo) and Kevin Shepherd (Fishers).
Looking to the season ahead, Dodds hopes his team is a contender in one of the nation's top Division II conferences – the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. The Chargers will take on several tough competitors, namely Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.
Along with setting high expectations for his team on the field, Dodds wants his players to excel in the classroom, too.
Dodds would also like to see his sophomore pitchers have a banner year. "I have high expectations for them," Dodds said. They include Doan, Butler, Bonner and Rocchio. Shepherd is the remaining returning player, but is not on the pitching staff. With eight others vying for a pitching spot, Dodds would like to see his bench go at least four deep. "We're pretty solid in the outfield and up the middle. We've got a good field, throwers and hitters, but I expect some good things from these pitchers."
Ancilla will travel to Franklin College on March 8, and will host Goshen College in the Chargers' home opener on March 12. Their week-long Florida trip will take place March 21-26 in Fort Pierce, Fla. For a complete schedule, visit the teams website at www.ancilla.edu/Athletics/MensBaseball.htm