Shunske Sugimoto Wins the First Ever BPAP

The last couple weeks have been pretty busy for the Cards. We have been zombies for the Monster Dash, attended films on campus, helped out in Morrisonville Elementary's pizza kit fundraiser, competed with the Alpha Phi sisters in the campus sponsored Fall-Fest, and been having some solid practices.
The Monster Dash made for a long day, but was ultimately a good time. We volunteered our services as "monsters" for the annual 5k. fully clad in face paint and running shoes, the Plattsburgh State baseball team terrorized runners for the full race. With the main objective for the runners being to finish the race with at least one of their "lives" (Flags tucked into a twine belt), it was our objective to try and steal as many flags as possible. Matt Meunier took home the crown of the Monster Dash Monsters, collecting over 50 flags throughout the duration of the race.
We have also been busy on campus, between attending film screenings held by various clubs aorund campus. Not only have we been doing this, but we also teamed up with the sisters of Alpha Phi in Fall Fest. During Fall-Fest, our players competed with the sorority girls in various, fun fall games. The combined effort played against teams made of other fraternities, sororities, athletic teams and campus clubs. Matt Chavez took home the unofficial title of Master Apple Bobber, after successfully retrieving "like 7 or 8 apples on my own" - Chavez.
Practice has been going very well lately. The last three have been highlighted by mini-games between the pitchers and position players. Position players are given a goal to accomplish offensively, while the pitchers are given goals to accomplish defensively. This is an entertaining, but effective practice tool, adding a competitive edge just to make things interesting. After a little bit of a rough start, today's practice went very well. Guys worked hard throughout, and came together to put in a solid days work. For the first time ever, we are creating an award for the best player at practice. The BPAP award as it will be referred to in the future, highlights the player who had an exceptionable practice. Shunske Sugimoto, the man of few words, patrols the outfield with grace and agility while commanding the strike zone from the mound. Playing centerfield today, after throwing on yesterday, Sugimoto came ready to dominate the game of baseball today. Drawing comparisons to his fellow countryman Ichiro, Shun not only beat out an infield single to the first baseman today, but he also made two sliding catches in center field on consecutive plays. Hats off to you Shunske, for setting the standard for what it takes to be named the Best Player At Practice.


Casey Brighton
Senior Captain

Practices Heating Up As Weather Cools Down

The team with Karen Gaffney at the North
Country Down Syndrome Association's
event. 

This year, we have been doing things a little differently in the fall. Instead of having our coaches run practices starting along with the semester, as we have done in the past, we have been having captain led practices. During this time, we have been doing a lot of inter-squad scrimmages, and a lot of community service. A typical week would entail 5-6 days of scrimmages, typically followed by some sort of community service, helping out various non-for-profits and charities on the weekends. (The North Country Down Sydrome Association's Buddy Walk, The Run For Jon, The Alzheimer's Walk, and the Heart Walk just to name a few) Not only has this change given the returners a chance to get some of the rust off before official practices actually start, but it gives all the new guys a chance to get the hang of how we do things here at Plattsburgh State. We have also been training with a strength and conditioning coach, Alanna Darling. She has been great thus far. She really pushes us and constantly reminds us why whatever she is asking us to do will help us on the field. It is helping some of the guys to get into the gym a little more than they might normally, which is only going to help us get better.

Mike Vargues directing traffic at the Heart Walk

Last week started the first official practices with Coach Doorey. We will be practicing outdoors as long as we can brave this lovely North Country weather. Officially practicing three times a week with coach on top of the additional captain's practices the other two weekdays should keep everyone pretty busy and working hard. Coming to aid Coach Kris Doorey in the coaching of the 2012-2013 Cardinals, former Plattsburgh State shortstop, Kris Cauchon joins the coaching staff as an assistant. Another new face this year is Matt Rodovick. Matt will be working as our pitching coach this year as well as helping to recruit future Plattsburgh State players. As always, the bench is graced by the always insightful Gary Butler, who even though his locally legendary (unofficial) step-grandson is no longer on the team. The mixture of familiar faces with a couple new ones should lead to an interesting, entertaining year.
We have a good group of guys, I am really excited to see how this year pans out. As far as the chemistry goes, I feel a strong similarity between this group, and the 2010 team, who if you don't remember went 30-10 and was ranked as high as 18th in the nation. We have a good group of seniors who have been to SUNYAC Playoffs and are itching to go back and get Plattsburgh a SUNYAC title.    We will need to get some contributions from some new guys, but our pitching looks good and our offense should improve over last season's. If we can put it all together when spring rolls around, we should give the 2010 team a run for Plattsburgh's best season ever.



-Casey Brighton
2012-2013 Senior Captain