The fall season as far as collegiate baseball goes is some of the most important times as player and coach. The fall consists of team practices, inter-squads and even some scrimmages against other schools across all divisions.
This was the case for the Rams this year as this fall was filled with tons of new faces and opportunities for that new talent to showcase their ability in hopes to make their case for a position come spring. No other event in a team’s fall is held in a more important light than that team’s Fall World Series, which is usually a three game series, where the entire roster was divided into two teams named after the schools colors, in Shepherd’s case, Navy and Gold.
The Rams look to improve on their 22-14 record from the 2021 season, as they believe they can make a legitimate run at the real College World Series in Cary, North Carolina. “We’re adding more than 15 transfers and freshman to the team this year,” said fifth-year senior and team captain Adam Miller.
“Obviously last year we didn’t finish where we wanted to and our recruiting last year addressed some important needs we had, so that this year we can make a legitimate run at Cary,” Miller said. When asked about how the new guys performed this fall Miller said, “They performed really well and for sure made a positive impact on the team, I’m excited about our chances this year.”
Fall is a time for the team to come together and get to work that ultimately culminates in the Fall World Series. This 2021 Fall World Series certainly did not disappoint. Game one went to the Gold Team and was highlighted by their early offensive onslaught and pitching that followed that held the Navy Team at bay.
Although Navy struck first, tacking on one run in the top of the first, Gold quickly answered, with Connor Dewees hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the first. Gold then came back next inning and scored an additional 6 runs, with Dewees driving in two more with a double. Despite a late inning spark by the Navy Team, Gold held on for the 9-6 win.
Although game two ended with the same result, the game itself was quite different. With stellar outings from Gold’s Tanner Dixon and Navy’s Austin Crebs, the offense was held to a score of 2-1 going into the seventh and final inning.
That’s when disaster struck for the Navy team as they loaded the bases for big first baseman Ross Mulhall, a transfer form La Salle University, as he hit a grand-slam to center field putting Gold up 6-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. From there they relied on another transfer, Ryan Bywaters, to shut the door and secure the victory, and that he did.
Although the Gold team secured a commanding 2-0 series sweep, players Navy and Gold alike are excited for what’s to come in 2022. Although this is the end for Rams baseball this fall, the feeling of excitement for the spring and the drive and determination is alive and well and gives Rams baseball good reason to believe there are good things to come this spring.
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