By Rob Potter
LOCH SHELDRAKE — March 21, 2006 – For the first time in two decades, Sullivan County Community College has a baseball team.
Last Tuesday, the Generals opened their 2006 schedule on Staten Island with a game against Globe Institute of Technology. Unfortunately for the SCCC players and coaches, Globe IT spoiled the team’s debut by recording a 13-3 victory.
Then on Wednesday afternoon, the Generals were edged 10-9 by host Bronx Community College.
This past weekend, the Generals returned to the boroughs of New York City for two doubleheaders. On Saturday, Globe IT – which is a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I team that offers athletic scholarships – swept the Generals, 11-2 and 9-0.
On Sunday afternoon, Queensborough Community College defeated SCCC twice by respective scores of 4-3 and 11-8.
Although SCCC has a record of 0-6, Coach Mike Marra remains very optimistic about the team’s next few games – as well as the overall season.
“We were competitive in the games against Bronx CC and Queensborough,” Marra said. “We were in those games and they could have gone either way. One play made the difference in each of those games, so our record right now could be 3 and 3.”
Because the SCCC baseball program is in its first season after the long hiatus, all of the players are freshmen. The former outstanding high school players are learning to work together under the tutelage of Marra and Assistant Coaches Ryan Edwards and Adam Lake.
“We were just a little inconsistent in those first games,” Marra said. “In one game, the hitting was good, but the pitching wasn’t there. Another game the hitting and pitching were good, but we had problems with defense.”
Marra expects his team to be competitive this season against the five other Mid-Hudson Conference teams: Dutchess Community College, Orange CC, Rockland CC, Ulster CC and Westchester CC.
The Generals will return to the diamond this afternoon. SCCC is scheduled to play Sussex (NJ) Community College in a non-league game at 3 p.m. at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill.
Weather permitting, SCCC will open its home schedule this Sunday, March 26 at Baxter Stadium in Mountaindale. The Generals will face Briarcliff Community College, with the first pitch slated for 2 p.m.