Bobcat Baseball Hunts Championship

The Frostburg State University baseball team is hunting for a championship, and Head Coach Guy Robertson thinks they can get it done.

The Bobcat baseball program has seen a lot of success in Robertson’s seven year tenure as head coach. In 2011, the Bobcats won a championship. They have not returned since, but they have been knocking on the door.

Robertson attributes that success to having good assistant coaches and good players, as well as a gritty, hardnosed approach to baseball.

“No great coach has never had great players, and I’ve been fortunate to have some great players,” Robertson said, also praising his assistant coaches for the great effort they put in to recruitment.

This team has no shortage of great players. Center fielder Kevin Kean, 2013 Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) player of the year, will be returning. Named to the 2013 All-CAC First Team, Kean led the CAC in batting average (.423), slugging percentage (.662), on-base percentage (.506) and tied for the league lead in triples (5). He also led the Bobcats in runs (44), hits (60), total bases (94), walks (21) and stolen bases (14).

“None of [these accolades] are in his mind,” Robertson said. “His focus is completely on winning the championship.” He described Kean as a humble, hardworking player who will contribute in a variety of ways.

Catcher Dylan Shupe, who was also named to the All-CAC First Team, is expected to have a great season for the Bobcats. In 2013, he hit a team leading 16 doubles. His four homeruns tied for first on the team, and his 38 RBIs were second. In addition to playing behind the plate, Shupe is an option on the mound for the Bobcats. While an elbow injury kept him off the mound for most of 2013, Robertson wants to use Shupe as a closer. He recorded three saves and a 0.75 ERA in 2013. Coach Robertson has confidence in the other catchers on the team, especially Zack Keeler, if Shupe goes to the mound.

Also returning as a starter is left fielder Rob Jennings. His 49 RBIs led the team as he made a significant contribution in the Bobcat lineup. First basemen Ricky Brady brings a certain fire and passion that will motivate the Bobcats during double headers and long stretches on the road.

Returning a handful of starters and several upper classmen, the team has a great mix of young and old players. Robertson emphasized the importance of having older players who have been there and done that, as well as having younger players to get experience and grow.

“We have a very talented group. We returned some talent from last year, and we brought some significant talent to fill in,” the coach said. “It’s good to have guys that understand what it takes to get wins at this level and in our conference. It’s very difficult,” Robertson continued.

Robertson explained the importance of developing young players, saying, “Any time you can get guys experience at a young age is certainly helpful to them in their development.”

Knowing how to win tough games is an important virtue, especially because the 2013 CAC champion Salisbury Sea Gulls are in the same conference as the Bobcats. Robertson hopes there is a rivalry between his team and the Sea Gulls.

Praising the Sea Gulls as “the gold standard in this conference,” Robertson gave the program a lot of credit. Salisbury and Frostburg have enjoyed a back and forth struggle over several seasons, and Robertson is proud of how his team has performed against them.

“I feel like we’re the only team in our conference that has consistently given them a battle,” the coach said of his team’s success against Salisbury. He continued to say, “Every time we collide, it’s going to be a dog fight.” Last year, FSU fell short against Salisbury in three of their four matchups. The Bobcats could strike back this season. Robertson claims that the team is improved from last season, citing an improved infield and a deeper pitching rotation.

“To be the man, you have to beat the man, and Salisbury has been the man for quite some time,” he said. With an improved squad and gritty determination, the Bobcats look poised to “beat the man” and win a championship in 2014.