With the overall season record of 4-27 and a conference record of 3-17, the Goshen College baseball team currently sits in last place in the Crossroads League. Despite a 10-game losing streak to start conference play, the team recently picked up two wins against Grace College with scores of 6-3 and 2-1. Along with these wins, the team also brought home wins against Kentucky Christian University and Bethel University earlier this season. 

Head coach Brad Stoltzfus commends the team’s resilience and determination throughout the season. “I’m sure that would be just such an easy assumption that this team would just quit and give up, you know, they’re 4-27, and it’s just like, no, not at all. These guys are in it, and we’re just working each day, each week, to improve for the next,” Stoltzfus said. 

This resilience was seen in the games against Indiana Wesleyan with Dylan Pearson, a sophomore pitcher, who threw a complete game and only gave up one hit. Additionally, in the games against Bethel, both Pearson and Logan Wilson, a sophomore pitcher, contributed greatly. Wilson pitched through seven innings and only gave up two hits and had no runs. Adam Traylor, a freshman pitcher, got player of the game after pitching 3.1 innings with two strikeouts and zero runs given up, resulting in a win against Grace College.   

Chris Godden, a senior, is one of the team’s six captains. This season, he has recorded two home runs and was last week’s Everence Student-Athlete of the Week. Despite the team’s losing record, Godden shares that the underclassmen, especially the first-years Kenny Ayala, Adam Traylor and Drew Sanford have been strong additions to the squad. Furthermore, the addition of assistant coach Mike Brouillette has added experience to the otherwise young coaching staff.

“Mike came in with a whole lot of mindset tips and a totally different attitude and shook things up … But we’re definitely reshaping culture and I think it’s starting with Mike,” Godden said.

Stoltzfus echoed Godden’s sentiment. Stoltzfus said, “Mike has brought a lot to this team from a player development standpoint, from a mindset standpoint and even for the coaches too.” 

There are 17 games remaining in the season with four big conference series that could influence the league standings in the next four weeks. 

Stoltzfus is highly optimistic for the rest of the season. “Our goal is still to make the postseason, make the conference tournament. Our next two conference series are going to be really good tests with Huntington and a ranked Taylor team,” Stoltzfus said.  

The GC baseball team plays their next games this Friday at Huntington University, followed by a game on April 8 at Western Michigan University. 

With reporting by Liam Shaw.