Lafayette Baseball is on the Rise
Contents
- The history of Lafayette baseball
- The recent resurgence of Lafayette baseball
- The Key Players on the Lafayette baseball team
- The key moments in Lafayette baseball history
- The biggest rivals of Lafayette baseball
- The most memorable Lafayette baseball games
- The future of Lafayette baseball
- The impact of Lafayette baseball on the community
- The media coverage of Lafayette baseball
- The fan support for Lafayette baseball
The Lafayette baseball team is on the rise, and fans are excited to see what they can achieve in the upcoming season Follow the team’s progress here on the blog, where we’ll be bringing you all the latest news and analysis.
The history of Lafayette baseball
Fayette Baseball has a long and storied history. The team has seen its share of ups and downs, but in recent years they have been on the rise.
The roots of Lafayette Baseball date back to 1892, when a group of students from Lafayette College formed a team. The team was officially recognized by the college in 1893. They played their first game against Lehigh University on May 6th, 1893. Lafayette won that game by a score of 10-4.
Lafayette baseball had its first taste of success in the early 1900s. The team won three straight Middle Atlantic Conference titles from 1903 to 1905. They also won the Pennsylvania state championship in 1903.
The team’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in the late 1900s and early 1910s. The team struggled to win games and began to lose fan support. In 1914, the college considered disbanding the team due to lack of interest. Thankfully, that did not happen and the team continued to play.
Lafayette baseball experienced a resurgence in the 1920s. The team won another Middle Atlantic conference title in 1922. They also had their first two All-Americans: pitcher George “Pat” Jarvis and infielder Carl Sponenberg.
The 1930s were a decade of transition for Lafayette Baseball The team moved from conference to conference as different leagues dissolved and new ones were formed. Despite the instability, Lafayette had some success on the diamond, winning conference titles in 1930 and 1931.
The 1940s were a tough decade for Lafayette Baseball The team struggled to find its footing, winning just one conference title during the decade (1941). Several players did manage to make it to Major League Baseball including pitchers Stan Coveleski and Art Mahaffey.
The 1950s were another difficult decade for Lafayette Baseball but there were some bright spots. The team won conference titles in 1952 and 1953. In 1957, pitcher Frank Lary became just the second player from Lafayette to make it to Major League Baseball when he made his debut with the Detroit Tigers
The recent resurgence of Lafayette baseball
After years of decline, Lafayette Baseball is finally on the rise.
The team has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks in part to new Head Coach Mike Roberts. Roberts has instilled a new level of discipline and dedication in his team, and it has paid off on the field. The team has won two consecutive league titles and is looking to make a run at the state title this year.
Players like pitcher Luke Jackson and infielder Matt Davis have been instrumental in the team’s success, and they will be counted on to lead the way again this season. With a strong mix of experienced veterans and talented young players Lafayette looks like a team that could be playing deep into October.
The Key Players on the Lafayette baseball team
The Lafayette baseballl team is led by a few key players These players have brought the team to new heights and are helping the team achieve its goals.
The key moments in Lafayette baseball history
Since the program’s inception in 1896, Lafayette baseball has seen its share of highs and lows. Here are some of the key moments in the program’s history.
1896: The first season of Lafayette baseball saw the team go 0-4.
1903: Lafayette’s first win! The team defeated Lehigh 5-4.
1909: Lafayette upset Penn, then a national power, 7-6. It was the school’s first win over Penn in any sport.
1911: Lafayette won its first and only conference championship The team finished 15-3 overall and 9-1 in the conference.
1913: Lafayette moved to Easton from its previous home in College Hill. Fisher Field, the team’s current home, opened on April 25th with a game against NYU. NYU won 5-0 in front of a crowd of 1,500 people.
1915: Lafayette lost to Navy in the inaugural Army-Navy Cup game, held at Shibe Park (now known as Citizens Bank Park) in Philadelphia. The Midshipmen won 5-0 in front of 20,000 fans, the largest crowd to ever see a Lafayette baseball game
1950: Pitcher Dirk Beebe ‘51 threw a no hitter against Lehigh, only the second no hitter in school history at that time (the first was thrown by Frank Giacalone ‘44 in 1944). Beebe would go on to have a brief Major League career with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians He is one of only two Lafayette alumni to play Major League Baseball (the other is Mike Kekich ‘66).
1963: William “Bones” Bence became Lafayette’s head coach Bence would become the winningest coach in program history, winning 546 games over his 26 seasons at the helm. He would also lead the team to nine conference championships and seven NCAA tournament appearances. Bence retired after the 1988 season and died tragically four years later in a car accident while en route to one of his former player’s wedding rehearsal dinners. He was inducted into the college baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 2006; his widow Mary accepted his plaque on his behalf.
2001: After an 0-3 start to their season, Head Coach Joe Kinney led the Leopards on an improbable run to their first ever Patriot League championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The team went on to win their opening game against Florida State before falling to eventual National Champion Stanford in Extra Innings Outfielder Christopher Nobles ‘03 was named Patriot League Tournament MVP after hitting .462 with four RBIs during postseason play; he would go on to be drafted by the Baltimore Orioles later that year (he is currently an Assistant Coach at his alma mater). Reliever Curt Zurcher ‘01 set a school record with 12 saves during his senior season; he too was drafted by Baltimore and played briefly for their minor league affiliates before embarking on a coaching career (he is currently an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University).
2009: In what would become one of the most thrilling finishes in school history, freshman second baseman Neil Mostyn hit a walk off two run homerun against Bucknell en route to winning Patriot League tournament MVP honors as Lafayette captured their second NCAA tournament berth under Head coach Mickey Annarummo (their first since 2001). The Leopards would eventually fall victim to two late comebacks by Big East power Connecticut en route to being eliminated from Regional play; All American pitcher Braden Maple ‘10 set a school record with 108 strikeouts during his senior campaign while also being named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year for his efforts
The biggest rivals of Lafayette baseball
The Lafayette Baseball Team has had a rivalry with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for many years. The two teams have faced each other in the Sun Belt conference tournament numerous times, with Lafayette coming out on top in recent years
The biggest rivals of Lafayette baseball, however, are the University of Louisiana at Monroe and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The two teams have been battling it out for the Sun Belt Conference title for the past few years, with Lafayette coming out on top in recent years.
The most memorable Lafayette baseball games
Lafayette baseball has been on the rise in recent years. The team has made it to the playoffs in three of the last four years, and won the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2016. The team’s success has coincided with an increase in attendance at games, and a growing reputation as a fun place to watch a baseball game Here are some of the most memorable Lafayette baseball games in recent years.
In 2016, Lafayette beat LSU 5-4 in ten innings to clinch the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team holding more than a one-run lead at any point. In the bottom of the Tenth Inning Lafayette’s Michael Weist hit a walk-off home run to give the team the victory.
In 2017, Lafayette hosted Ole Miss in the first round of the NCAA tournament The Rebels were one of the top teams in the country, but Lafayette held their own throughout the game. In the end, Ole Miss won 2-1, but not before giving their fans a scare.
Last year, Lafayette made it back to the NCAA tournament and hosted Stanford in the first round. Once again, Lafayette took an early lead but ultimately fell behind and lost 9-5. However, this game was memorable for being one of only two games during Stanford’s run to the College World Series that they failed to score ten or more runs.
The future of Lafayette baseball
Lafayette baseball is on the rise. After years of mediocrity, the team is finally starting to show signs of life. The future is bright for Lafayette baseball, and fans are hopeful that the team can finally start competing for championships.
The team has a young core of talented players, and they are led by a new coach who has brought fresh energy to the program. The team is also supported by a strong fan base, which has continued to grow in recent years.
Lafayette baseball has a bright future and fans are excited to see what the team can achieve in the years to come.
The impact of Lafayette baseball on the community
In recent years, Lafayette baseball has seen a resurgence in popularity. The local team has enjoyed a lot of success, and fans have flocked to the ballpark to support their home team This increase in interest has had a positive impact on the Lafayette community, both in terms of economic growth and civic pride.
As the popularity of Lafayette baseball has grown, so too has the economic impact of the team on the community. Businesses that are located near the ballpark have seen an increase in foot traffic and revenue, as fans come to the area to eat and shop before or after games. This boost in business is good for the local economy and helps to create jobs in the community.
In addition to the economic benefits of Lafayette baseball, the team also brings a sense of civic pride to the community. Fans are proud to support their home team and they enjoy coming together to share their love of the game. This sense of community spirit is good for morale and helps to make Lafayette a more enjoyable place to live.
The media coverage of Lafayette baseball
In recent years, Lafayette baseball has seen an uptick in media coverage. This is due in large part to the team’s on-field success, as well as the rise of social media
The increased coverage has been a boon for the program, helping to raise its profile both locally and nationally. It has also helped to generate more interest in the team, leading to increased attendance at games.
The coverage of Lafayette baseball is likely to continue to increase in the coming years, as the team looks to build on its recent success.
The fan support for Lafayette baseball
The Lafayette Baseball team has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, and fans are flocking to the stadium to see the team in action. The team’s success on the field has translated into a more passionate and vocal fan base, and the atmosphere at games is electric. Lafayette is quickly becoming known as a baseball town, and the team is poised to make a run at the postseason.