Buccaneer Baseball Wraps Up Fall Season, Releases 2011 Spring Schedule

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The CSU baseball team will wrap up its fall activities, both on and off the field, this week as they continue to prepare for an exciting and competitive spring slate.  The Bucs, who have kept busy with community service and conditioning work, will open the 2011 spring schedule in February at CSU Ballpark. 

This fall has been a busy one for Bucs, as they have participated in several great charities and events for the community. The players have been coaches in the Summerville Miracle League each weekend, workers for Habitat for Humanity and raised money by walking in the Walk against Childhood Leukemia in Mt Pleasant. Additionally, the players in elementary schools read throughout the season and help coach at baseball clinics in the community.

The2010 fall season has concluded on the field, with off-field condition coming to an end on Friday with the final event of the CSU Omaha Challenge.  The Challenge began on November 15 with all 37 players participating in a timed 1.5 mile run, numerous field events and weight-room activities to test strength and conditioning. There will be an overall individual winner and a team winner announced when the event concludes.  The CSU coaches, however, will stay busy over the holidays with several camps being offered in December and January.

The Fourth Annual Building Buccaneer Baseball Golf Tournament was also this fall with CSU Baseball players participating as caddies and players. The tournament, which consisted of more than 100 participants this year, is held on Kiawah as a fundraiser each year to continue to improve facilities for CSU Baseball.  Obtaining lights for CSU Ballparks has become the team’s top priority, and a campaign to raise funds has already been launched.

Nick Chinners and Tom Burkett were recently voted team captains. Brantley Meier was chosen to wear the No. 23 jersey this season by his teammates. The No. 23 jersey is in memory of former CSU players Grant Ringenburg and Scott Gardner. This jersey is chosen each year to be worn by a senior who best represents the program on the field and off. Additionally, this player must exemplify the CSU philosophy of integrating faith in learning, leading and serving.  

With the fall season behind them, the Bucs are ready to kickoff their spring season which will officially open with team practice on January 28.   CSU will kick off the 2011 season on February 18 when they host the University of North Florida in a three-game home stand at CSU Ballpark.  The season-opener will also mark Head Coach Smoke Laval’s first game at UNF.  Coach Laval previously led the LSU Tigers to the College World Series before stepping down in 2006.

Contests with the Big Ten’s Michigan State (February 25) and the ACC’s Clemson (February 26) are just two of the many competitive nonconference games the Bucs will play early on – most of which will take place in South Carolina.   A four-game home stand against Furman (March 11-14), followed by tilts with Savannah State (March 15) and USC Upstate (March 16) will prepare the Bucs for the Big South season, which opens on March 18 when the team travels Lynchburg, Va., to take on the Liberty Flames.  In addition to Big South foes Radford (March 25-27), Asheville (April 1-3) and VMI (April 15-17), among others; the Bucs will take on George (April 5-6) and cross-town rivals The College of Charleston (April 12-13) and The Citadel (March 29, April 15).  In one of their final nonconference games of the season, CSU will head to Columbia to take on the National Champion USC Gamecocks on May 11.

Check www.CSUSports.com to keep in touch with the CSU baseball team.