Entering the season, Drury Head Coach Scott Nasby knew he had something to build on. “We returned most of our starters,” said Nasby. “We have 18 seniors on the team. We have seven or eight that return to the starting lineup. We knew what to expect from these guys but they’re outperforming what they did in the past.”
This year, the Panthers lead the nation in scoring and doubles per game. Plus, they’ve lowered their team ERA by nearly two full runs. “Our goals right now are to really get after it on the mound,” said Austin Fennewald, a senior and the team’s starting catcher.
Fennewald is one of the few position players who didn’t start last season. But his role may be the most crucial.
“So it’s different for each pitcher,” said Fennewald. “I can go out there and ask the pitcher like, ‘Hey, what are we having for dinner after this?” or I can go out there and go after him and get into him a bit. It just depends on the personality of the pitcher.”
After three years as a backup catcher Coach Nasby is relying on Austin to say the right things to his pitchers on the mound.
And with this team, personality is not in short supply. As Austin pointed out while talking about the team’s approach to the season. “We’re not going to worry about mashing home runs and doubles and a bunch of RBI’s,” he said. “We’re just going to worry about moving runners when they’re in scoring position.”
Then one teammate got a piggyback ride from another teammate behind him. “Yeah that’s it right there,” said Fennewald. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
And with a chance to have the best season in program history in their grasp, they’re giving us all something to talk about.
Coach Nasby is thinking big. “If we can keep that pace, it’s going to be a fun, fun year.”
