Outfielder Dominique Fitzgerald was quick to recall when Winston-Salem State's first-year baseball team came together.
"I really think we started clicking during those cold, cold practice days early in the season," said Fitzgerald, also a wide receiver for the WSSU football team. "That was some serious bonding time because we were out there practicing, and it was freezing. But it made us tougher."
That toughness — and togetherness — was on display over the weekend when the Rams won their first CIAA title.
"We did OK for a program that wasn't even here last season," Fitzgerald said.
Coach Kevin Ritsche built the team on the fly. With little scholarship money available, most players walked on, giving the school a baseball team for the first time since 1973.
The Rams put together a 30-19 record, with the last two wins coming Saturday against St. Augustine's (7-6 and 3-0) in games WSSU had to win to win the double-elimination CIAA tournament. Next up is the NCAA Division II tournament, which will start May 19.
Ritsche, technically the interim coach, recruited several area players who wanted to play college baseball to get the program off the ground. Included in that group is workhorse catcher Michael Robbins, 25, an assistant coach at Glenn High before re-enrolling in college.
"It's been our goal from Day One to come out here and be winners in our first year," Robbins told reporters after Saturday's championship game in Petersburg, Va. "It's all about hard work. Everybody was working their butts off. Every time somebody was called on, they did their jobs, and now we're champions."
Defense and pitching got the Rams far, Fitzgerald said, but over the weekend they also had their bats working.
Sophomore pitcher John Markley pitched in both games Saturday and was the tournament MVP. He closed out the 7-6 win and earned a save by recording the final two outs, then came back and pitched seven shutout innings to win the second game.
"John really came through for us in both of those games," Fitzgerald said.
Outfielder Andrew Smith played a key role, going 6-for-9 with two RBIs and a run after entering the tournament with a .212 average.
The Rams didn't have much luck against the Falcons (36-18) before Saturday, losing to them five times (including in a CIAA tournament opener earlier last week).
"We finally broke through at the right time," Fitzgerald said.
Ritsche said that his team showed a lot of heart Saturday.
"Facing a team like that really questioned whether our team had heart or not, and I think the scoreboard speaks for itself," Ritsche said. "These guys really wanted it bad. I think they wanted games during the season, but I've never seen them dig that deep before. It's fun to be a part of."
Ritsche said that every player did his part all season.
Markley, infielder Tyler Hickernell, second baseman Jordan Graham, pitcher Brice Rivenbark and first baseman Andrew Miller were all-tournament selections.
Fitzgerald, who helped the Rams go 8-2 in football, was glad to be a part of a CIAA championship in baseball. He said he started out slowly but by the middle of the season was in full baseball mode.
"We're just a big, happy family," said Fitzgerald, who is hitting .313 with 20 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. "We are on the road a lot, and we love to hang out a lot with each other. We all have each other's back and that helps us on the field."
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