Columbus, Ohio - With the first half of the season now in the books, the Capital Comets baseball team will open the second half of the 2024 season, this Saturday against 2023 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) tournament champion, John Carroll University, at Clowson Field.  First pitch, 1:00pm.

As the Comets enter their second orbit of the 2024 campaign, they will be doing so having already matched their 2023 win total.  Having competed with most, it would appear the tail is getting brighter with these Comets.  The pitching is markedly improved, the hitting is finding their groove and the defense is demonstrating daily improvement...all signs the 2024 edition of Capital University baseball is moving in the right direction.

Head Coach Scott Manahan said, "People have to remember, we are in a rebuilding, some might even say we are in the building phase, and in building anything...it takes time.  Our kids are working hard, extremely hard, as indicated by matching last year's win total in the first half of this season.  That is a testimonial to their drive and determination, and those two things alone are key ingredients in building a winning program."  Progress is key, and progress in defense, offense and pitching is being experienced.

Manahan went on to say, "On any given day, we are putting seven to eight Freshmen and Sophomores in the line-up, and as a result we will experience some bumps and bruises along the way, but we will be more seasoned and better for it as we continue to grow and develop."  One big move has been anchoring Connor 'Chubb' Feeney at first-base.  Converted from the outfield this season, Comets hitting coach and former Major League Baseball first-baseman, Dan Briggs said, " This kid [Feeney] is better defensively than a lot of guys playing in the big leagues today!"  

Key to the progress demonstrated to-date is leadership, and Senior Captain Feeney, along with fellow Captains, Kyle Bowles and Colin Boldin, have played an integral role in steering the Comets progress.  Feeney, who is on track for a career year for any collegiate player said, "I have been playing here four-years and this is the best team I have been on since I have been at Capital.  This team is about us, not any one individual, not any one player, coach or staff member, and when a team can focus on 'the team,'  and ego is shelved, good things begin to happen, and good things are happening this season."

Good things, indeed.  At the halfway mark of the season, Feeney, along with Cade Anderson, Robby Harrison and Ryne McKinney are amongst the OAC's TOP 25 in batting average and on-base percentage. Pitcher Trevor Woodyard in ranked in the conferences TOP 25 in ERA and WHIP, and seven other Comets' pitchers (Landon Kim, Tyler Bebout, Logan Detty, Tyler Sickles, Noah Bromberg and Brian Young) are ranked in a variety of other categories.  What you don't see may be as equally as important as any indicator of Capital's progress, is that Freshman Michael Andryszcyk, Cole Boroff and Daylan Barnes have demonstrated they are playing a key role in moving the program forward.  During the first four conference games of the season, Barnes has lead the Comets in runs driven in, a testimonial to the young Freshman's understanding of game...driving in runs. 

Pitching Coordinator, Duke Dickerson echoed Manahan's sentiment by addressing the pitching progress, "As simple as it sounds, the key to effective pitching is throwing strikes, changing speeds and keeping your team in the game.  It is that simple!  Over the first half of the season, our pitching kept our team in the game at least 15 games which accounts for 75% of the games.  That is a remarkable improvement.  If it weren't for the pitching coordinator [Dickerson] deviating from the pitching schedule/plan...we would have been in at least 2-more games.  Bottom-line, these guys [pitchers] have demonstrated marked improvement, and with durability and sustainability, this is going to be a quality pitching staff."

In short, the first half of the 2024 baseball season demonstrated progress...progress in the right direction.  Part II, while to be determined, would appear to have all the kings horses and all the kings men, and in a position to begin putting Humpty back together again.  Progress is being made...and good things are happening with Capital University baseball.