The RSU Baseball Club – in the first game of its inaugural season – scored a 3-2 victory over the John Brown University baseball club during a March 11 game at Siloam Springs, Ark.
After tasting initial victory, the club has lost its two games since, including a 6-2 defeat in the second half of the March 11 double header with JBU and a 9-2 loss Tuesday night to JBU during a game in Pryor.
“I was really proud of these guys to get a win during the first game of the first season, I think it shows we have a lot of potential here on campus,” said Ron Bradley, RSU’s physical education coordinator, who coaches the 16-man roster.
The club is composed of students with a variety of baseball backgrounds, including experience on the high school and college levels and some who have never played organized baseball, Bradley said.
RSU has established a baseball club in order to provide additional extra-curricular activities for students, promote physical fitness and provide a forum for building teamwork and other interpersonal skills outside the classroom, said RSU President Dr. Joe Wiley. The university intends to add additional club sports programs based on student demand.
In addition to the two dates already played against JBU, the baseball club is scheduled to play six dates this spring against other university club teams. On April 4, RSU will play a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Crowder College in Neosho, Mo. The club will face JBU again on April 10 for a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Siloam Springs. On April 17, RSU will travel to Enid to face Northern Oklahoma College in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
On April 22, RSU will host JBU for a 6 p.m. doubleheader at the American Legion Park, located at Blue Starr Dr. and Sioux Ave. in Claremore.
The club will travel to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College to face its club team during a 2 p.m. doubleheader on April 25. The club will conclude its season on April 30 with a 5:30 p.m. game against JBU in Siloam Springs.
The roster for the RSU baseball club includes:
Chip Benson, catcher, Claremore; Adam Bivins, second baseman, Claremore; Randall Booth, outfielder, Woodward; Chris Bruffet, outfielder, Claremore; Chad Cannon, outfielder/shortstop, Broken Arrow; Robert Cyrus, outfielder, Tulsa; Ryan Daniel, pitcher/first baseman, Oologah; Kyle Davis, third baseman, Copan; David Frederick, outfielder, Broken Arrow; Scott Gibson, shortstop/pitcher, Hominy; Brent Gregory, outfielder/second baseman, Claremore; Clifton Johnson, third baseman/first baseman, Bartlesville; Brandon Lewis, outfielder/designated hitter, Claremore; Jeremy Moore, first baseman/designated hitter, Foyil; Vic Ray, outfielder, Chouteau; and Jermaine Roberts, catcher, Broken Arrow.
Bradley is a member of the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. He led four teams to win state baseball championships while at Claremore, Jenks and West Fork (Ark.) high schools. Aaron Gentry of Claremore, an RSU alumnus who played two years of minor league baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, is serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the club.
Bradley said the players are excited about being able to participate in competitive club sports and to represent the university.
“The players are also really excited about being able to play a game at home on April 22nd in front of a hometown crowd and their fellow students,” Bradley said.
For more information on RSU club sports, contact Bradley at (918) 343-7787.