Columbus, Ohio - The 2022 Capital Comets baseball team ended the season with a crash landing at Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers, the AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, as the team dropped the final two games of the season.  After a challenging 2021 campaign (4-30), Capital baseball closed the season out with a 10-29 mark.  

Not good by any means, however, head coach Scott Manahan doesn't quite look at it that way.  The first-year head coach said, "While I thought, as did our players and staff, we'd have a better record than we did, the fact we made progress is critical. To quote NFL great, Drew Brees, "You are either getting better or getting worse, but you are never staying the same," and with that said, the fact of the matter...progress is being made and this team is flying in the right direction.

"With a break or two, here and there, we may have won 18-20 games."  Manahan continued, "We were consistently...inconsistent.  In the beginning of the year we could hit, but couldn't throw strikes...and at the end of the year, we could throw strikes, but couldn't hit.  And our defense, that was a different story."  

Manahan pointed out, when building a program, or in the case of the Comets, 'reload, rebuild and reboot,' it takes time...especially when you miss an entire recruiting cycle.  The best outcome experienced in 2022 may have been the coaching staff's opportunity to analyze and evaluate the current roster, and based on that, design, develop and implement a recruiting strategy to address unmet needs. He said, "The evaluation of our current roster, coupled with the recruiting process is like pouring concrete...you have to wait for it to settle and dry, and then you have something to build on."

Assistant coach Steve Boyd said, "People have to remember these guys went through a lot in 2021, three coaches in three months is a lot to handle, however, our guys stayed with it, and that is both admirable and commendable.  When many of our returners reported for the 2022 season, there was a new attitude...of which I attribute to Scott [Manahan] and his culture, and culture is everything."

The buzz throughout Capital's athletic complex was the 2022 Comets worked harder than any baseball team they had seen in years...and they did.  Manahan said, "The majority of the players worked incredibly hard.  They were inside the Cap Center (Capital's indoor athletic facility) hitting and throwing at all hours of the day.  What I realized and what I appreciated was, these players were dedicated, they had the will to do what was needed to improve, and as a result of their effort we saw progress."

As the page turns to the 2022-23 season, it would appear the concrete is beginning to settle.  This year's recruiting class may be one of the most robust in years. To-date, the 2023 Comets will see about 20 new faces this Fall, and one thing is clear, the complexion of the roster is reflective of talent from throughout the United States and beyond, and this is indicative of where these Comets will fly.

Regarding the incoming players, "It is going to be pretty exciting," said Manahan.  "You'd be surprised at the number of players who want to come to Capital, and be a part of our 'reload, rebuild and reboot.'  It takes a special type of player, to want to build something, and we are fortunate enough to have found a really impressive group of young men to complement our returning guys.  They are looking forward to putting their stamp on the program.  The environment will be very competitive and that is what we need to learn to do...compete." 

In closing, Coach Manahan was very clear when he recognized the University's President, Dave Kaufman, Provost, Dr. Jody Fournier and interim Athletic Director, Steve Bruning.  Manahan said, "You can have the best plan and players on the planet, however, if you don't have the support of the University's leadership...you will get nowhere fast, and we are so fortunate to have their support."