Baseball coach wants regional World Series victory for Rams

Kevin Ritsche, head baseball coach is not looking to just win another CIAA championship.  This season, he wants the Rams baseball team to be No. 1 and win the regional World Series.  

    In his three seasons as head coach, Ritsche has amassed 104 victories.

     Though the 2013-14 team is a lot younger and inexperienced than his teams have been, Ritsche said he has a lot of confidence in his guys.

    "We have 11 guys back and 21 new guys, but we have talent and guys who want to succeed very badly," Ritsche said.

     "Because we don't have any team captains, we expect our seniors to be the leaders on and off the field."

    Ritsche said that speed at the top of the lineup, pitching and depth in many positions are the strengths of this year's team.

     "We're going to be expected to win no matter what," he said.                 

    "Things we've done in the past don't dictate out future success."

    Chris Kane, a sophomore exercise science major from Graham, N.C., hopes to be a key contributor to the team.  Kane, who is a DH/outfielder, said his teammates are special.

     "Everyone has a winning mentality and plays their role," Kane said.

    Kane said the team has been working hard in practice and that hanging out off the field has helped as well.   "We're very close and hang out together when we're not playing baseball, he said.

     "Watching games, eating and being silly. It all really brings the team together."

      Kane says the players need to stay focused and make sure they're smart on and off the field.

     "Everything else will take care of itself."

    Catcher Connor Andrews, junior exercise science major from Winston-Salem, is expected to be a big contributor. Andrews transferred from Western Carolina.

     Andrews said he transferred because he wanted to receive more playing time. He said he wanted to play for a winning program and to play at BB&T Ballpark.

    BB&T Ballpark is a minor league baseball stadium and home to the Winston-Salem Dash. The Winston-Salem Dash partnered with the Rams and are allowing them to play all of their regular season home games at the stadium.

    Andrews said playing baseball at Winston-Salem State is a great situation for him. He already loves his teammates and coaches.

    "There's a camaraderie; everyone cares about each other and has so much passion for the game," Andrews said.

     "We just have to improve on the little things, and everything will be ok."