Players participate in community service

Several DWU baseball players recently contributed to community service projects in Mitchell, SD. Last week, the players helped pump gas at County Fair for the Grocers against Cancer fund-raiser. The players pumped gas for an hour, helping out dozens of other volunteers from Mitchell. The players who worked the service project included: Kirk McBreen Nick Tadlock Alex Meyer Josh Wagner Jesse Elward Matt Mundfrom Shaun Dean Tim Cusick Nick Pecha Tony Pakukta In addition to the cancer fight, other players helped move a family from Mitchell to a community outside Minneapolis. A handful of players spent a day to pack and load an entire house of belongings. Those student-athletes included: Alex Hinz Tim Cusick Mickey Grant Brendan Roth Nick Tadlock Christian Doyle Cody Silveria "Our guys are quality individuals, and it shows both on and off the field," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "We feel it is important to help the community. I give these guys a lot of credit for volunteering their time for such great causes." The team was treated to a Thanksgiving dinner - complete with turkey and all of the trimmings - last Thursday on the DWU campus. The faculty and staff served the meals to the student-athletes.

Spring Break hotel information

Fans of the Dakota Wesleyan University can get the same discounted hotel rates as teams participting in the Tucson Invitation Games. The Tigers will be staying at the Residence Inn of Tucson. The following provides more information on the hotel, which includes a free breakfast buffett in the morning. Residence Inn $129(Suite) or $99(Studio) + tax 6477 E. Speedway Blvd. / Tucson, AZ 2‐bedroom or Studio Suite w/ Full Kitchenette Complimentary Deluxe continental breakfast Distance to Lincoln Park – 6 miles Distance to Kino Complex – 9 miles

Heading back to Tucson

The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team will be heading back to Tucson, AZ for its annual spring break trip. The Tigers will participate in the Tucson Invitational games March 2-9, 2013. The team will stay at the Residence Inn in Tucson. "We're excited to go back to Tucson," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "It hardly ever rains, the fields are great, and we're going to see a variety of teams this year." The Tigers will play about 10 games during the trip. The schedule of games and times have yet to be announced. It is expected to be released before the first of the year."

Opshal resigned

Congratulations to former DWU player and current coach Etan Opsahl for earning an extension with the Fargo Redhawks. Last year's GPAC pitcher of the year signed with the Redhawks last year and helped them to a record-breaking year. The left-handed pitcher's contract was renewed yeserday.

What a fall

It's been a great fall for DWU baseball. More than 50 student-athletes are playing baseball for the Tigers - and playing it with passion, desire, teamwork, and unselfishness. The team is a close-knit bunch that just wants to play the game the right way. I give a lot of the credit to the upperclassment. They have picked up the pace lately and have demanded excellence. The seniors and juniors have made sure that we play the game with sense of urgency, a will to win, if you will. In short, the team has gotten after it. Key injuries, inclement weather, and long days have not detoured the players. They have stayed together, fought hard and came together as a team. And it's not just our older guys. A great group of freshmen have dawned the blue and white. To say they are special would be an understatement. Combined with our sophomores, our freshmen have really come together. Don't get me wrong, the team has a lot of work ahead of it. We need to pitch, play defense and hit at a more consistent level. However, if we keep our winning atttiude, good things will continue to happen for this team. Let's hope it does.

Games cancelled

Today's games versus Dakota State University have been cancelled due to inclement weather. The DWU baseball team will play Doane (Saturday) and Hastings (Sunday), both 1 p.m. start times. The DWU JV team will play in Sioux Falls Monday against Augustana starting at 3:30 p.m. The varsity team will play at Concordia of Moorhead Tuesday, at home against Dordt Thursday, and close the regular season Saturday at Mount Marty. Today's games will not be made up.

Believe

The DWU baseball team has been on a roller coaster ride of sorts in 2012. The team is 14-26 overall and 3-5 in GPAC play. As head coach of the team, the season has been, at times, frustrating, exciting, fun and baffling.

Even though the results do not always show it, our team is much improved from a year ago. Our guys have worked extremely hard since day one. The players have spent countless hours in the weight room, batting cages and on the field. Good things are bound to happen for the team.

Our team has yet to learn how to win consistently. Patience is key here. Unfortunately, with a team with just two seniors on its roster, patience is one of the most difficult emotions to swallow. I know good things will happen to this team, but it has taken longer than we were hoping. Turst and faith are two key words for our program. We believe and have faith that our program will continue to improve and compete on a day-to-day basis.

I am impressed with our players. They come to practice everyday looking to get better. They believe they will come together and acheive success. Although sometimes frustrating, they believe they can compete with the best. They have worked extremely hard on the field and in the classroom.

We need to stay patient, believe and have faith. Good things are bound to happen for this team.

Game changed; JV to play tomorrow

The DWU baseball team changed its game from Thursday to Wednesday evening in Madison, SD. The games will now be played today at 5/7 p.m. due to the impending shceduled rain for Thursday.

The DWU JV team will play Northland College Thursday, 7 p.m., at Drake Field in Mitchell, SD. The game will be 9 innings.

Team gears up for spring break trip

The DWU baseball team is set to embark on a cross country journey to Tucson, AZ for 11 games in seven days. The team will be staying at the Doubletree Inn Airport (Just changed names)for the entire duration of the trip.

Games will begin Sunday and run through Saturday. Wednesday is desginated as an off-day for the team.

"We're excited for the trip," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "The weather is expected to be gorgeous and the fields are great in Tucson. The trip is all about baseball and the team. We expect to be a much better team after the trip."

The team is traveling via a bus and is expected to take up to 20 hours.

"The bus ride will be educational for the guys," Gust said. "it's not completely ideal, but it will be good for the guys to see the country."

Nunn recoverying

DWU assistant coach Kevin Nunn is recoverying well at his home in Mitchell after suffering a heart attack while the team was on the road in Kansas. Nunn, the team's hitting coach, suffered the attack Saturday evening while resting in his hotel room.

"He is a lucky guy," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "He had major blockage in his arteries. The doctor cleared them up and expects nearly a full recovery. If he would have let it go, things could have been a lot worse."

Nunn will not accompany the team to Arizona for its spring break games, but is expected to return the following week.

"We're excited to have him return," Gust said. "He is completely committed to our kids and the program. We just don't want him to return too soon. Our first concern is his health."

Kansas not Missouri

The DWU baseball team will be heading to Salina, Kansas this weekend instead of Missouri Valley. The change is due to a scheduling conflict that would have matched the Tiger baseball team with the junior varsity team from Missouri.

"Because of a scheduling conflict, we would not have been able to play the varsity team at Missouri Valley," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "We felt a change was needed for the betterment of our program."

Instead, DWU will matchup against Kansas Wesleyan, a team that was one win away from the NAIA World Series a year ago.

"It's important to play the good teams early in the season," Gust explained. "Those teams will expose your weaknesses and make you better as a team. As important as wins are this time of the year, it's more important to improve as a team. The only way to maxmimze that is to play the real good teams."

The two teams will play two 7 inning games Saturday and one 9 inning game Sunday. Start times are 1 p.m. both days.

"We're excited to play another good team," Gust said. "Sterling College was very good last week and we had chances to win. Hopefully this week we'll be able to figure out a way to beat a real good team."

Missouri Valley

The DWU baseball team heads to Marshall, Missouri this weekend for a 3-game set against Missouri Valley. The team will play two 7-inning games Saturday and one 9-inning game Saturday.

DWU will be staying at the Comfort Inn in Marshall. The number to the hotel is (660) 886-8080.

Whirlwind of a start

The start to the 2012 baseball season has been a whirlwind of emotions for the DWU baseball team. The team started by taking three out of four from Dickinson State in the Metrodome. Pitching was dominant for the Tigers in the Dome. Starters Ethan Opsahl, Joey Fitzgerald and Nick Pecha all looked good in their season debuts. Closer Zac Custer earned two saves in the series.

"Our pitching was very sound," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "They got ahead of the hitters, changed things up a bit and competed. They were better than expected."

Offensively, Kirk McBreen and Erik Nockleby had strong showings and big hits for the Tigers. Defense was also solid for the Tigers, led by Maximum Shower's play in left field.

"Max made some unbelievable plays," said Gust. "His plays really sparked our performance."

Last weekend, the Tigers ran into a buzz saw of sorts with Sterling College. Sterling won three games in impressive fashion.

"Sterling had quality arms and players," Gust said. "They could do it all. It was good for our team to see such an elite team."

The Tigers kept the score close in all three games but couldn't get over the hump against Sterling.

"They were the better team, but we still had chances to win," said Gust. "That's all you can ask for as a team."

DWU had chances to win two games Sunday against Bethany, too, but a walk off grand slam prevented them from winning game one.

"That was a tough one to lose," said Gust. "We had a great comeback in game one only to see them rally in the last inning. Although it was extremely disappointing, games like this will only help us down the road."

DWU finished the six-game road trip with a one-loss in game two against Bethany.

"It just wasn't our weekend," Gust said. "But I liked a lot of what we did as a team. As tough as the results were, I know these games are going to help us as a team."

Metrodome lodging

The DWU baseball team will be staying in the Fairfiled Inn in Eden Prairie this week as part of its opening weekend. The Tigers will play Friday (3 p.m.) and Saturday morning starting at 7:30 a.m. DWU will play a four-game set against Dickinson State.

The following is the hotel information:
Hotel Information
Hotel: Eden Prairie Fairfield Inn & Suites
11325 Viking Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344 General Manager: Teri Butler
Hotel Phone: 952-903-9444
Hotel Fax: 952-903-9444
Hotel Email: edenprairieff@tmihospitality.com

Hotel Website: http://marriott.com/mspfe

Hotel Amenities:
Exercise Room;Continental Breakfast;Free High Speed Internet;Free Local Calls;Indoor Pool;Jacuzzi;Guest Laundry;Business Center;Hair Dryer;In Room Coffee;Shuttle;Market/Suite Shop;Valet Laundry
Restaurants Within Walking Distance:
Subway, Roly-Poly, Don Pablo's, Redstone, Wildfire, Eden Prairie Mall Food Court

Team calendars for sale

The DWU baseball team is selling calendars to help offset costs of its spring trip to Tucson, Arizona. The calendars feature photos of all members of the team, action shots from a year ago, the 2012 schedule and much more information on the team and individual players.

"These calendars are a great keepsake for our players and their families," DWU head caoch Steve Gust said. "They also provide valuable information for the 2012 season."

Calendars can be purchased for $15. Send a check to Steve Gust, DWU baseball, 1200 West University Ave. Mitchell, SD 57301. Once payment is received, calendars will be shipped immediately.

Gearing up

The season opener is set to begin in just seven days. The DWU baseball team has been practicing since early January in anticipation of Friday's opener against Dickinson State at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN. The opener includes doubleheaders both Friday and Saturday. The times for Friday's games have been pushed back to a 3 p.m. start time from the original 12 noon start. Saturday's games are still set to begin at 7:30 a.m.

The Metrodome begins the season schedule which includes stops in Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Arizona. The 55-game schedule includes games against Division I, II, III and NAIA opponents. The conference opener is set to begin in late March. The conference tourney will be held at Haymarket Field in Lincoln, NE, home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Tigers are picked to finish 9th in the conference, according to the recently announced conference poll voted on by the coaches. However, expectations are a bit higher in the Tigers camp.

"We believe we have the talent to compete with every team in the conference," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "Our guys have been working extremely hard, both on and off the field. Talent-wise, we're very solid up and down the lineup. Our best attribute, however, might be our desire as a team. We have guys who have high expectations for themselves and their teammates."