WSSU has rare home double-headers

Watching Winston-Salem State play baseball in Winston-Salem this season won't be easy, but there will be a rare chance this weekend.

The Rams do not have a home field and will play only eight games in the city — all at BB&T Ballpark.

Seventh-ranked Millersville will be in town this weekend for the first of those games, doubleheaders at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The only other games scheduled at BB&T are Saturday-Sunday doubleheaders March 17-18 against St. Augustine's. Coach Kevin Ritsche of WSSU said he had to look at other fields for "home" games because of the cost of playing at BB&T. Neither Ritsche nor Geoff Lassister — the president of the Winston-Salem Dash, BB&T's main tenant — would say how much WSSU pays to use the stadium.

The Rams also will play "home" games at Ed Price Field in High Point and Finch Field in Thomasville.

Despite the scheduling challenges Ritsche has faced lining up sites for games and practices, his Rams still will have targets on their backs. WSSU fielded a team last season for the first time in more than 30 years and ended up winning the CIAA title and finishing 30-25.

"There's no question we snuck up on some people last season," Ritsche said. "We don't really have that luxury this season, but at the same time, I think we are improved with a deeper team."

The Rams, 1-4 with three losses to No. 25 Armstrong Atlantic, have 18 new players on the 31-man roster. Ritsche had nine scholarships available and the chance to recruit.

"It's kind of like a salary cap, and we parcel out that money when we recruit," he said. "I think we maybe have one guy on full scholarship, but we like to spread that out to where guys have some financial help. We have about 22 players that are getting money, and the rest are walk-ons."

The added depth should give catcher Michael Robbins, a 26-year-old senior, a few more days off. He played in 53 of 55 games last season.

"I was worn down," said Robbins, who was nicknamed "Gramps" by teammates and coaches. "But I've prepared myself this year to be out there as much as I can. A day off is nice every now and then, but I don't know what to do with myself on the bench when I'm not in the lineup."

The other returning starters are third baseman/pitcher Tyler Hickernell, shortstop Scott Wells, outfielders Dominique Fitzgerald and German Reyes and pitchers Joe Herbert and John Markley.

Ritsche said that several newcomers will help, including Aaron Jones, a junior from Kernersville who has a team-best .625 batting average through five games.

Robbins said the added depth will play a big role in the bid to repeat as conference champion.

"We've got some depth and some of the new guys, such as Aaron Jones, have been lights out so far," Robbins said. "He's killing the ball. He worked his butt off all fall, and he's swinging the bat well."

Other newcomers are infielder Paco Martin, a native of the Dominican Republic who played at Garner High School, and outfielder Travis Moore.

"The biggest thing for us is coming out and getting good pitching and getting the key hits when we need them," Robbins said. "We have to produce when we get guys on base, and we have to limit the walks.

"We gave up a lot of walks against Armstrong Atlantic, but we'll get there. We just have to get there a little quicker."

Ritsche, whose team led the CIAA in earned-run average last season, agreed that his pitchers must reduce their walks.

"We had two big pitching injuries already, and that's going to hurt us, but we've been working with 15 pitchers since last fall, and we'll need every one of them over the long haul of the season," Ritsche said.

Ritsche also has upgraded the nonconference schedule in hopes of a better regional ranking.

"We want to win the CIAA again and win the regional this year," Robbins said. "Coach scheduled all these ranked teams so we can have a national ranking…. The big goal is we've talked about getting to the World Series."