New stadium lights the way for the future of Bronco baseball

By Grant Hughes

Well, there's always next year.

While the Broncos haven't exactly stunk up the joint this season, they've certainly fallen short of some lofty expectations. Injuries and inconsistent play have dropped the Santa Clara baseball team's record to three games below .500. Untimely errors and shaky pitching performances cost the Broncos all three games last week against San Diego. With five blunders over the three-game set, including catcher Matt McColgan's 12th of the season, and a combined 27 runs surrendered, the Broncos faltered badly against a very average Torero squad. Never fear though, optimism springs eternal on the Mission Campus, and for good reason. All those bulldozers across the Alameda are signaling a new era in Bronco baseball history. With the construction of Santa Clara's new baseball stadium, made possible by Oakland Athletics owner, and Santa Clara alumnus Steve Schott, the upcoming seasons will yield brighter times.

Recruits will now have a brand new stadium to be impressed by on their visits to Santa Clara, which could go a long way in landing the top-tier talent that generally eludes the Broncos. Couple the better recruiting potential with the returning players, and Santa Clara baseball starts to get very interesting. The only major losses the Broncos will suffer this offseason will be senior hurlers Chad Fillinger and John Redmond. Given the pitching performances this season by Bronco starters, how bad can a little turnover on the mound be? Barring any early exits for the MLB draft, Santa Clara will return every starting position player. Even more important will be the return of freshman All-American Patrick Overholt. With Overholt and junior Anthony Rea, the Bronco bullpen will feature the single-season saves leader and runner up. It's not often a team can trot out their top-two, single-season, saves relievers back-to-back, but the Broncos will do it next season. If freshman Jared Hughes can get over his elbow problems and sharpen his control, the coaching staff thinks he has the potential to be a great starter for the next three years.

Stud outfielder Robert Perry will also have another year under his belt. From the leadoff spot in the lineup, Perry has cranked four homers and drawn a team-leading 14 walks as a freshman. Assuming right fielder Nic Crosta returns, along with slugging first baseman Will Thompson and sophomore third baseman Dustin Realini, the Broncos have the potential to do some serious mashing in their new digs next year. Sophomore shortstop Michael Lange has already said that next year's recruiting class looks very strong and most of the team agrees that the new stadium is already a major draw for top talent.

So hang in there Broncos fans. This year's team is by no means a bad one, but they are threatening to stay pretty average for the rest of the season. The next time one of the younger Broncos commits a costly error, know that he'll be back next year with a season of solid experience. And whenever the bullpen surrenders a lead in the late innings, just imagine Anthony Rea shutting out opponents in the seventh and eighth before handing the ball to stopper Patrick Overholt in the ninth. Picture a 3-4-5 of Thompson, Crosta and Realini, and watch them smash line drives and blast homers left and right. If you want, you can even imagine all this taking place in a brand new, state-of-the-art, baseball-only ball park. The high expectations for Santa Clara baseball that came this year may have arrived a little early. Count on 2005 to be the year the Broncos make some serious noise.

û Contact Grant Hughes at (408) 554-4852 or ghughes@scu.edu.