Baseball is an American institution: It's fresh air and the smell of the grass. It's peanuts, cracker jacks, and Harry Carey. It's as much of an American staple as loud music and fast food. It's as American as it gets.
Baseball also has a regional appeal, especially on the college level. Almost every school in the South, from Wofford to Florida State, fields a competitive baseball team. Come NCAA regional time, college baseball is as big in the South as biscuits n' gravy.
Yet, here, at the University of Virginia, college baseball goes almost unnoticed by the student body. Here, at the school designed by Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the voice of the American spirit, most students couldn't name one player on the team. Here, at the so-called Harvard of the South, one often hears, "wait, when did we build a new baseball stadium?"
Fortunately, for the first time in a number of years, the baseball program has a chance to reinvigorate itself. The team is coming off of its best season since 1998, going 29-25 and finishing just short of an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Almost every starter from this year's team will be back in 2004. Davenport Field, the new facility that is the face of Virginia Baseball has been playing host to record crowds. Lastly, Virginia has begun the search for a new head coach, following the retirement of long-time coach Dennis Womack. If all the pieces come together, then the Virginia baseball program could reach new heights.
The 2003 baseball campaign was marked by a number of streaks. The Cavaliers started off the season by losing five of their first seven games, but turned things around by winning seventeen out of their next twenty. Virginia ended the regular season on a slide, however, dropping twelve of their last eighteen games. Much of the team's success came at home, a fact that is often the sign of a young team. At one point during the season, Virginia won a school record sixteen straight home games.
Of all the rising stars on this year's Cavalier team, Junior Joe Koshansky shined the brightest. Koshansky stood as one of the team's most consistent hitters, as well as the ace of the team's pitching staff. The junior finished the regular season with a 7-1 record, and an ERA of 1.52. He garnered a spot on the all-ACC team for his efforts. Despite being roughed up by NC State in the ACC tournament, Koshansky also made the ACC all-tournament team. Just two weeks ago, Koshansky was also named to the CollegeBaseballInsider.com all-America team as a utility player.
When he wasn't shutting down the other team's hitters, Koshansky was busy winning games with his clutch hitting. He recorded 57 hits during the 2003 season, none of which was bigger than the walk-off home run he hit against Wake Forest in the ACC tournament. The dinger eliminated the Demon Deacons and kept Virginia alive for another day. Koshansky will return for his senior season, and will undoubtedly be the most exciting player Virginia has had in a very long time.
Virginia also returns its two home run leaders, Freshman Mark Reynolds and Junior Matt Street. Together, the two combined for 28 home runs and 69 RBIs. With both these power hitters in the lineup next year, Virginia should have little trouble putting runs on the board.
While most of Virginia's starters will return next year, long-time coach Dennis Womack will not. Womack's retirement could be either a curse or a blessing, depending on one's point of view. It is doubtful that Virginia will ever be able to find a better ambassador for their baseball team. Womack was as amiable of a coach as I have encountered at the college level. His warmth resembled that of Pete Gillen, only without the fast-talking New York accent. Yet, like Gillen, Womack's team has under-performed. Although Womack holds the Virginia record for coaching wins, his teams finished under .500 more often during twelve of his 23 years.
Reports have listed three main candidates to replace Womack: Virginia Commonwealth coach Paul Keyes, Notre Dame assistant head coach Brian O'Connor, and Boston Red Sox Third Base coach Mike Cubbage. Of the three, Cubbage obviously seems to be the most exciting choice. His professional experience could open Virginia up to a new higer-caliber of recruits. For a team with a strong returning cast, a beautiful new stadium, and an exciting opportunity to wake one the nation's best university's from its baseball slumber, he seems to be the man for the job.
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