Making the best of things

It's Monday and the Devils are back to work. For Ryan Fitzgerald, its a little bittersweet. A sophomore, Fitz was one of the most improved players this fall and was planning to compete for a starting position at catcher and DH. Unfortunately, he won't be playing this year. During the winter break, he tore his ACL and is done for the year.

However, Fitz has made every practice and has participated to any extent he can. He spent this morning coaching the other catchers and throwing balls for blocking drills, etc. standing on his good leg. He has also been to the trainer everyday and is doing what he needs to do to rehab the injury.

Today, he was given the Hammer for his positive outlook. Congrats, Fitz.

Practicing

The last few days, we began to work in our first and third defense and bunt defenses a little earlier than usual. For the first time in a while, we really don't have anyone that has been a starter in the program in the infield. Third baseman Dillon Lowe has a bunch of starts under his belt, and Brian Sheehan returns behind the plate, but other than that, we have a new group that will be starting.

We are still focusing on conditioning, too. Overall, we need to improve as a team significantly. We have 14 games in nine days to begin the year. Conditioing is important. The delinquent milers will be at it for extra wok Saturday morning.


Friday we will have part 1 of the Olympics, with the finals coming on Monday. By next week, FSU's Fittest Man will be named.

Congrats to Ryan Carmody and Ian Gallagher for picking up the Hammer the last few days. 


I want to give a 'shout out' to the Rooster (2008), All Decade DH. He's kind of upset about the IQ Test. " I wouldn't put too much stock in that, its a simple game." he wrote.

Day 1 in the books

The first day of 6 a.m.s is complete. We did our strength test and mile test and found some time for conditioning.

Congratulations to Connor Lorenzo for setting a new bench press mark. He hammered out 47 reps of 75% of his body weight. He wipes Vinnie VanAuker, Jon Messina and Josh Melquist (43 reps each) off the top of the chart. When reached for comments, Vinnie texted "Love the off season focus, team has a lot to prove and it sounds like they intend to do so." Josh Melquist texted "It's only because he has short arms." Thanks, Vinnie.

Dan Greco set the pace in the mile with a 5:33. It is tied for the fifth-best all time mark. Josh Greco and Donnie Kirsch finished together in 2010 with the same time.

The players also completed their baseball IQ test. We will review those in the days to come. It was a written test that reviewed NCAA rules and different situations. This is the first time we have done this.

We also worked in some bunting -- today's results were not where they should be. Kenny Johnston (new this semester) was able to get four straight bunts down to cut out some extra conditioning. Good impression for his new teammates.

Connor took home the Hammer today. He turned in an outstanding mile time in addition to his work in the weight room.

Snubbed again!

Jack Morris, a great competitor.

Once again the Hall of Fame voters overlooked one of the best competitors of the past 30 years. Jack Morris was snubbed by the voters, receiving only 67 percet of the vote, 48 votes shy of the 75 percent needed for induction.

Morris is a three-time World Series Champ with three different teams and was the ace and innings eater of those staffs. He tossed a no-hitter in 1984 and threw arguably the best game in the history of baseball -- a 10-inning shutout in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. He was the best pitcher of the 1980's and had 254 career wins. He always threw the big game.

You've got my vote, Jack. A true winner.

From 'Everyday Andy' to 'Double Duty Dlugosz'

Andy tracking timeouts and looking sharp.

When Andy Dlugosz played for the Blue Devil baseball team, he appeared in more games than any other pitcher in the history of the program earning him the nickname 'Everyday Andy'. He finished his career with team records for wins, games, strikeouts and innings pitched. This year, he joined the baseball staff.

He also joined the basketball staff. Andy was a solid high school hoopster at Bishop Timon. His father, Nick, was a long-time basketball coach. Andy was very involved in the sport helping his dad with coaching and camps over the years. Working with two teams earns him the nickname 'Double Duty'.

Andy has been looking to make coaching a career, and has expanded his experience to include working with coach Kevin Moore and the hoops team. Andy had been the team's official statistician the previous four years. Andy has also done a great deal of work with the sports information staff, covering soccer in the fall, and has worked a number of hockey and volleyball games over the years.

Where are they now? Stu Gardner, Class of 1979

Stewart Gardner, ('79)
President and Founder
of Charlotte Wealth
Management, LLC

Our first a segment of “Where Are They Now” comes from Stuart Gardner.  Stuart Gardner played from 1977 to 1979 under Coach Ludwig.  Stuart mentions that as a team they were very successful in the years that he was here at Fredonia State.   

Just as we do now, Stuart and the Blue Devils took an annual trip down to Florida for spring training.  This is where he recalls some of his greatest memories.  One of his best memories during a game was when they were playing a Florida school and lost the first game 9-2.  In the night cap of the double header, then teammate Billy Nolan was the starting pitcher.  Early in the game, Nolan suffered an injury that was a result from a hard line drive that hit him in the throwing hand.  He finished the inning and when he returned to throw the next Nolan began to pitch with his opposite hand.  Gardner notes that Nolan actually threw better with his off hand.  

 Another vivid memory for Gardner also came from Florida.  They were sitting in their hotel room and one of the players dared Bart Carruth to do something somewhat not intelligent. Carruth ate an entire light bulb in the hotel room of Florida. Gardner says this was one of the funniest things he has witnessed.

Not long after graduation, Stu hooked up
with Charlotte O's Farm team (1980).

          Gardner's favorite personally memory is when he was yanked from the game after hitting a grand slam.  Gardner recollects, “It was a 2-0 count, Coach Luddy gave me the take sign, I couldn’t believe it, so I decided to hell with him I’m swinging, and sure enough I go and hit a grand slam.”  Gardner says that in the same exact game, Billy Nolan hit a grand slam as well but remained in the game.  Maybe you shouldn’t listen to the coach more often.  

He earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in psychology from Fredonia State University in 1979. He is President and Founder of Charlotte Wealth Management, LLC, and has worked extensively in the field of Financial Management since 1983, and currently resides in Charlotte, N.C.

Stuart and his wife, Gail, have been married since May 1984. They have two sons, Christopher and Chad. Stuart is a player, coach and a director for the Charlotte Adult Baseball League and enjoys playing ice hockey in the winter.