SAGU Baseball
Coaches say Lions will improve with experience
KEVIN CROUCH
The Ellis County Press
WAXAHACHIE - Coaches with Southwestern Assemblies of God
University's Lion baseball team responded Saturday to a recent
after-season article in The Ellis County Press in which players alleged
a lack of commitment and discipline on the part of SAGU's staff.
"Coach [Greg] Hayes is the 'Billy Bean' of Southwestern baseball, and he
definitely has put the program in a position where it can compete and
reach for higher levels," said Clay Scarborough, a SAGU baseball coach
and the athletic department's sports information officer for the 16-22 Lions, who finished 7-8 in conference play.
Though the beginning of the season started out with numerous growing
pains, the fledging Lions would rely on their "most exciting season,"
according to Coach Hayes.
"We have guys involved in
church ministries, second jobs to pay for tuition, and late classes,
but we deal with it," Hayes said.
Scarborough said the
bullpen lacks depth, but later in the season, SAGU "finally found a
couple of guys we have a little confidence in. We can still compete,
and hopefully underclassmen know how it feels to get close, and we can
build on that experience. [We'll] improve with experience."
Other accomplishments and season highlights the coaches mentioned:
- Most wins in program history this last season
- Starting pitchers gave a chance in most games to win, had a couple bad games.
- Junior pitcher - five total wins by himself, highest in career
- Freshman pitcher - set record for complete games
- Senior pitcher - key win playing with broken toe
- Lost four of last five conference games; shut out twice; two games with only one run
- Northwood University in Cedar Hill won three out of four games to pass SAGU in standings - which
coaches said made the difference in the last minute change in standings.
- Full attendance at practice would be nice, but there are other priorities
- Could improve on bull pen depth; scholarships to recruit more competitive players are needed
- Not on par with Texas Wesleyan & Northwood with scholarships; need funding to bring in competitive players.
- Bull pen doubts go back to beginning of season.
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