Submitted by Bob Edwards
Public Relations Dept. Asst.
Glenville State College
Glenville, WV - After nearly a three decade hiatus, the sport of baseball is returning to Glenville State College. On Tuesday, March 1, 2011 in the President's Auditorium the official announcement was made that baseball has been added as the twelfth NCAA Division II sport's team at GSC and that the Pioneers will be competing in the West Virginia Athletic Conference's Spring Baseball Schedule in 2012.
"I am pleased to announce the return of NCAA Division II baseball to Glenville State's athletic programs. Since the GSC baseball program was disbanded in 1983, students, alumni, and fans have called for its return. Now, that will happen," said GSC President Dr. Peter Barr.
Intercollegiate Baseball is not new at Glenville State College. When Ben Snyder, Professor of Landman Technology at GSC, arrived on campus to teach his classes for the winter term in 2008 and saw the beautiful field built by the Morris family, he was astounded to discover that Glenville State College had no baseball team. "I kept asking people why and kept getting reasons that I thought were solvable." So Snyder researched the history of baseball at GSC. He found records back to 1903 that named E. G. Rohrbough as the baseball coach. Beginning in 1934 there was a 13 year period where there was no baseball. Then from 1947 to 1983 intercollegiate baseball once again flourished at Glenville. "For some reason still undiscovered by me, baseball was disbanded at the end of the 1983 season," said Snyder.
After several meetings with Athletic Director Janet Bailey and President Barr, Snyder was given the go ahead to form and chair an exploratory committee to study the feasibility of bringing baseball back to Glenville. "I contacted many former players and coaches and was elated to discover that they were as excited about the possibility as I was and they pledged their full support. The passion for their experience here at Glenville State made me even more determined to get this done." The committee was comprised of Snyder, three ex-players, a former coach, a member of the Morris family, a representative of the athletic department and two representatives from the college administration. "We did our homework, prepared the report, submitted the final version to the Board of Governors and President Barr, and the decision to bring back baseball was made."
"Until now, Glenville State College was the only WVIAC member school that did not field an intercollegiate baseball team. It is exciting to reinstate baseball back into our athletic program. The Sue Morris Complex provides a state-of-the-art facility where our softball team and now our baseball team can practice and play their sport. I believe our fans will enjoy watching the intercollegiate competition. We appreciate the Baseball Club for 'stepping up to the plate' and Ben Snyder for his perseverance in making this team a reality," said GSC Athletic Director Janet Bailey.
Snyder has been named the interim coach for the Pioneer baseball team until a full time coach can be hired. He will be assisted by GSC Admissions Counselor Adrian Duelley who was a member of the 2001Gilmer County High School State Championship baseball team. "I have always loved the game of baseball. To be part of starting the Pioneer team is truly an honor and a dream come true," said Duelley. Travis Beachler, a former pitcher for the Shepherd University Rams, will be the Pioneer pitching coach.
The Pioneer roster includes several players from the area: freshman Devon Cottrill son of Edward Cottrill of Glenville and Tina Edens of Clarksburg, and freshman Matt Roberts son of Buzz and Anita Roberts of Glenville, Tyler Schartiger son of George and Norma Schartiger of Grantsville, Josh Ramsey of Burnsville son of Michelle Goodrich and James Ramsey, freshman Josh Watson son of Ivan and Kim Watson of Elizabeth, junior Josh Drake son of Jamie and Angie Drake of Newton, junior Aaron Parsons son of Vincent and Cathy Parsons of Walton, junior David Miller son of Dave and Deloris Miller of Walton, red shirt sophomore Chris Snyder son of Ben and Donna Snyder of Amma (1st team all state infielder 2007), and senior Eddie Williams son of Don and Pat Williams of Spencer.
As the WVIAC baseball schedule for 2011 has already begun and GSC is not a part of that schedule, the student athletes now on campus that are interested in playing baseball this spring will be playing an anticipated 20 game schedule as a 'Club Team.' "We formed the Glenville State Baseball Club team in the fall of 2009. In the spring of 2010 we only played seven games. As a club team we can only compete against other colleges that have either 'club teams' or junior varsity teams," Snyder said.
This spring the GSC club team has scheduled games against the junior varsity teams from West Virginia State University, Rio Grande College, Davis and Elkins College, and the West Virginia University club teams. All home games will be played on the Kenny Greenlief Field at the Sue Morris Complex in Glenville. "We are trying to schedule some additional games against other schools this year," added Snyder. "I am very proud to have had a small part in bringing the game I love back to Glenville."
For more information about the GSC baseball program, contact Assistant Coach Adrian Duelley at Adrian.duelley@glenville.edu or (304)462-6136.
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