With 17 new additions to roster, Rams baseball looks to repeat

The reigning CIAA Champion Winston-Salem State baseball team may have added new players, but the team's goals remain the same: another conference title and a College World Series run.

The 2011 Rams baseball season ended with a record of 30-25 overall, and 19-7 in the conference.

They won the CIAA Championship and earned a trip to the regionals with a fifth seed.  

At the NCAA tournament at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa. the Rams came up short with two losses, 7-2 to Mercyhurst and 11-3 to Concord.

Rams second-year Head Coach Kevin Ritsche added 17 new players to his 13 man-roster of returning players.

The new recruits include seven freshman and 10 transfers from junior colleges and universities.

"Bringing in these new guys equals starting from scratch with my system, but we also have increased the talent level," Ritsche said.

Ritsche said he plans to build on the championship season from last year by splitting the season in four parts.  

He said that each part contains attainable goals for his players to reach their maximum potential, so they are peeking by end of the season.

"We are looking to win around 41 games this season en route to a CIAA championship, regionals and College World Series," Ritsche said.

Ritsche began implementing his system when practice began Jan.  10, in the C.E. Gaines Center gym.

The players worked on batting, pitching and other strategies.

There is no locker room for the team, but that but does not bother the players one bit.

"Honestly, it's cool because I like to keep my equipment with me in case I want to work on my own somewhere," Quashawn Fulton said.

Fulton, a junior business major from Winston-Salem plays second base. He transferred from Guilford Technical Community College.

Even without a locker room the players are still continuing to gel as a team.

"We are very busy with practice, but we get along well and no guys on the team have egos," Travis Moore said.  

Moore, is a junior rehabilitations studies major that plays the outfield. Moore transferred from Surry Community College.

"I like the HBCU experience.  It is very different from Surry Community College," Moore said.

The pitching staff for the Rams has the highest increase in depth. The team lost one pitcher but reloaded with two from last year.

The team had limited pitchers that could be called in for games, but this year the Rams are anticipating that they will have two or three pitchers they can go to.

"We have gone from seven pitchers last year to 16 pitchers in depth," Ritsche said.

One of those pitchers is Sheldon Johnson a senior New Jersey native.

Johnson has participated in the College World Series at Mount Olive College in Mount Olive, N.C.

"It was an amazing feeling and experience to play in front of so many fans," Johnson said.

Johnson said he grew up in a rough neighborhood in Northwoodbury, N.J. and says that he brings determination and a will to win.

"We have the talent, but the challenge is for the team to remain focused all season with the right mindset."

The coaching staff has high expectations for Johnson and the role he will play for the team.

"He is a guy that brings leadership and experience to help out our younger guys," said Kentaus ‘K.C.' Carter, assistant coach.

Johnson said he is excited about the prospect of making history with his teammates this season.

"We will win another championship and we will make a World Series run," he said.