N.C. State is home to successful athletic programs, but often the varsity teams are the ones that receive recognition and publicity. The club baseball team is one of the programs to consistently achieve national nationally. The reigning South Atlantic North Conference and Southeast Atlantic Regional champion has put out eleven All-Americans in seven of the last eight years. The team was a national runner-up in 2004, and made the semifinals in 2008.
Since joining the National Club Baseball Association in 2001, the team dominated opponents with an overall record of 180-69. Though State brought a new head coach on board for the 2009 season, the Pack does not look to quit battering its opposition.
ìThings havenít changed around the field at all [since new coach Craig Allen stepped in],î second baseman Tyler Wilson, a senior in business administration, said. ìWeíre only allowed [by NCBA] rules to practice once a week, but weíve been putting in a lot of time outside of practice to improve from last season.î
Before accepting the head coaching position, Allen served as the teamís hitting coach for several seasons. Allen’s experience with N.C. State baseball has given him the ability to make an easy transition from assistant to head coach.
“Having been around the program, I’ve gotten a chance to see what works well and what could be tweaked slightly,” Allen said. “We’ve made a few adjustments to the practice schedule, some strategic adjustments for games, but mostly I’ve tried to instill a sense of ëteamí.î
Wilson and Greg Munoz, a junior in business administration, agree unity and teamwork are the key focuses of the team, and one of the reasons for its current success. Munoz, a first baseman, said Allen made his transition into the position of head coach easier on the team.
“He is a guy we all trust and have faith in his baseball knowledge,” Munoz said. “It may sound clichÈd, but the keys to being successful are hard work, dedication, and teamwork. All three are philosophies Coach Allen does a great job conveying to the team.”
The team faces the challenge of being young and having only three returning starters. Munoz said the team’s veterans look to continue to set the bar high through leading by example on the field.
“The new guys need to see us playing hard, hustling and having a positive and upbeat attitude towards the game,” Munoz said.
Munoz currently leads the team, hitting .391 with 3 HR and 33 RBI.
The club baseball team is three weeks into the season and recorded a 5-2 record as of March 13. Several players left the team due to injury or personal reasons already during the season.
“Even though we have lost some guys, we are still in a great position to get back to [Fort Myers, Fla]. and win the World Series,” Munoz said. [Being No. 4] we have a target on our backs and all the teams we play are going to come at us. We have just got to play fundamentally sound baseball and keep working to achieve our goal, a national championship.”
