This weekend in Crusader baseball began with a Senior Day ceremony, honoring five seniors who have dedicated much of the last four years to the University of Dallas, both athletically and academically. The honored seniors placed an exclamation point on their collegiate baseball careers with a two game sweep of #13 Trinity University in their last games at Crusader Field in Irving, Texas.
Seniors Phil Carkhuff, Luke Kersting, Martin Lopez, Delano Ponce, and David Rettinger were all honored before starting pitcher Carkhuff threw the first pitch of the game on Saturday afternoon. Ponce started behind the plate while Rettinger started his 35th game of the season at shortstop. With an overflowing grandstand of fans behind the protective screen, Carkhuff got off to a great start, throwing an 8-pitch first inning which he ended with a strikeout looking.
The Crusaders lead off the bottom of the first inning with back to back walks from leftfielder Devin Arnold and centerfielder Brian Shelburne. Third baseman Trevor Allred then reached on a fielder’s choice. With bases loaded and no outs, the Crusaders looked poised to strike early. After consecutive infield pop outs, however, it looked as though Dallas would strand three baserunners. Rettinger made sure that this would not happen as he stroked as single up the middle to bring in two runs. “Dave’s hit was huge,” said Carkhuff. “To be able to pitch with a lead against a team like (Trinity) allowed me to feel free to attack the strike zone and fire on all cylinders.”
And Carkhuff certainly did this as he held Trinity scoreless until the top of the seventh inning. In his 7+ innings of work, Carkhuff allowed only three hits as he walked three batters and struck out three batters. Carkhuff earned the win, his 7th of the season, as three runs were charged to him on the day. “It was the most fun I’ve had on the mound all season,” said Carkhuff, who was quick to point out his defense’s effort on Senior Day. “If Trinity put the ball in play, I knew the guys behind me were going to lay it all on the line.” Among the best of the defensive plays on Saturday were rightfielder Adam Farris’ two incredible diving catches.
Junior Michael Schweiss relieved Carkhuff in the top of the 8th inning with men on first and second base and no outs. Schweiss “made his pitches” but surrendered two tough hits which allowed three runs to score in the eighth inning. Schweiss closed out the inning as he induced a fly out to centerfield, maintaining the Crusaders narrow 5-4 margin. Dallas was unable to push across an insurance run for Schweiss in the bottom of the eighth inning, but a one run lead proved to be enough for Schweiss who earned his 4th save of the season.
Coach Fraser Holmes sent junior Michael Byers to the mound on Sunday afternoon, hoping that he would imitate Carkhuff’s solid start on Saturday afternoon. Byers was nothing but brilliant in his start as he shut out the powerful Trinity offense for seven innings, striking out two batters and allowing only five hits and one walk. “I’ve never had an opportunity to pitch with the stakes that high and against such a good team,” said Byers after the game. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been zoned in like that…I wanted to win so badly.”
Byers left the Crusaders in a great position to do just that. When Byers was replaced by Schweiss to start the 8th inning, Dallas lead Trinity 2-0. The Crusaders first run came when first baseman Andrew Bossert crushed a solo home run into a strong wind to left field. Dallas added another run in the 6th inning on an RBI single from Shelburne.
Schweiss worked himself into trouble in the 8th inning, giving up two runs before escaping the inning by inducing a groundout to Allred ended the inning by stepping on third base for the force play. The Dallas offense failed to knock in the go ahead and the game headed to extra innings. In the top of the 10th inning with baserunners on first and third base, Ponce committed an error on an errant throw to third base which allowed the base runner to score, giving the Tigers a 3-2, their first lead of the series.
After Rettinger reached on an error and Farris singled, Ponce was quickly given a chance to redeem himself. Ponce did exactly that as he crushed a ball to the left-center gap for the game-tying RBI single. With the potential game winning run on third base, third base coach Kyle Kilgo wasted no time to secure the win. Kilgo signaled for Carlson to drop down a safety bunt. Carlson laid a perfect bunt down the first baseline and Farris raced home for as the winning run. Farris touched home and was immediately mobbed by his ecstatic teammates. The lively Crusader fans clapped and cheered in approval of their team’s outstanding effort. The past weekend certainly was a great chapter in the four years of the seniors’ careers and in the history of Crusader Baseball.
The University of Dallas Crusaders (25-11) completed a two game sweep of the Trinity University Tigers (29-10) in dramatic fashion Sunday afternoon with a 4-3 walk off victory in the 10th inning.
Junior Michael Byers was brilliant in the start as he shut out the Tigers for 7 innings. Byers surrendered only 5 hits as he kept the Tigers hitters off balance all day. The Crusaders broke a scoreless tie in the 5th inning with a solo home run from freshman Andrew Bossert. Bossert’s home run just cleared the fence despite strong winds blowing in from centerfield.
Senior catcher Delano Ponce got things going for the Crusaders in the 6th inning as he reached on an error by the Trinity shortstop. Freshman second baseman Mark Carlson then ripped a single through the left side of the infield to advance Ponce to second base. With two outs, junior Brian Shelburne smashed a single to centerfield, bringing in Ponce.
The Crusaders held this 2-0 advantage until the top of the 8th inning. Junior Michael Schweiss replaced Byers to begin the 8th inning. After a double steal, Schweiss surrendered a 2 RBI single on which centerfielder Brian Shelburne nearly gunned down a runner at the plate. Both runs scored with two outs and Schweiss promptly induced a ground out to end the inning.
Dallas was held scoreless in the 9th inning despite a leadoff single by Shelburne. After a strikeout, Shelburne was picked off first base and the Crusaders failed to bring home the game-winning run.
Things fell apart quickly for Dallas in the 10th inning. After a leadoff groundout, Schweiss surrendered a double and the preceding batter reached on an error. With baserunners on first and second, Schweiss induced a fly out to right fielder Adam Farris. This allowed Early to advance to third base while Robusto remained at first base. On Robusto’s steal attempt to second base, Ponce tried to catch Early napping off third base. Ponce’s throw was poor and Early came home to score the go ahead run for the Tigers. Schweiss struck out the batter Pappas swinging to end the inning, but the Crusaders trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning.
After a groundout, senior David Rettinger reached base on an error by the shortstop. Farris then singled to advance Rettinger to second base. With two men on base and a potential game-ending double play in order, Ponce delivered a clutch RBI single to the gap in left field, bringing home Rettinger to tie the game at 3-3. This brought up freshman Mark Carlson in the biggest situation yet of his young collegiate career. Third base coach Kyle Kilgo called for a safety squeeze and Carlson dropped down a perfect bunt to bring home Farris, the winning run of the game. The Crusaders dugout erupted and raced out to home plate to mob Farris and Carlson, the hero of the game.
Dallas will travel to California two weekends from now to face #7 Chapman University in a three game series, the final of the season. Information about potential postseason tournaments will be forthcoming.
It’s hard to miss Alsene Nduwayo. He’s big, he’s got a great laugh and he’s always around people. And then of course there’s his smile.
While most students and faculty on campus know Alsene by his smile, most do not know the story behind the smile. Alsene’s journey to the University of Dallas is a longer one than most. To be exact, Alsene’s story stretches from Rwanda, Africa to Irving, Texas with many stops in between.
“I remember waking up to bullets…” he started. That was the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994 for Alsene, who was only four years old at the time. Years of tension between Hutus and Tutsis, the two primary Rwandan tribes, escalated into widespread violence after the assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana, the Rwandan president. Angry over the death of their president, Hutus violently targeted Tutsis wherever they could be found.
For Alsene this horrific situation was even worse as his mother was Tutsi and his father Hutu. As Alsene’s mother and sister were the “epitome of Tutsi” their lives were in extreme danger, as those who looked Tutsi were shot on the spot. Due to this, Alsene and his family had to separate from his mother as she sought safety with a friend.
Seeking safety for himself and his family, Alsene’s father piled his children and others into a 12 passenger van and headed towards his father’s home near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of the 12 people in the van at the beginning of their escape to safety, only 7, including Alsene, made it to his grandfather’s home. “I don’t know what happened to the rest,” said Alsene.
It could be said that the Rwandan Civil War started a series of movement that has not really stopped for Alsene. After the civil war, Alsene began attending a boarding school outside of Rwanda at the age of six. “He knew the best education was outside,” said Alsene of his father. Between 1996 and 2003, Alsene moved a great deal. Two of his later stops included schools Kenya and South Africa. “I’m like a nomad,” he said. “I’m always moving.”
Alsene’s wanderings continued when his father decided to move his family to the United States. The purpose of the move was not to pursue economic opportunity in the United States, but rather to obtain green cards. During the civil war, governments had airlifted out Rwandans with green cards from their respective countries. Alsene’s family had not been so fortunate, and his father was determined to acquire green cards to secure his family’s future safety.
With the aid of family friend, Janvier, the Nduwayos moved from Rwanda to Frisco, Texas. Janvier, a Tutsi who was able to move away during the genocide, acted as the Nduwayos agent for their new home in Frisco. While Alsene began attending the University of Dallas, his father worked to obtain green cards for his family.
In his attempt to secure green cards for his family, Mr. Nduwayo was told by the government to temporarily return to Rwanda. “Did daddy forget about us?” Alsene’s siblings began to ask his mother. Upon hearing this, Mr. Nduwayo could not bear the thought of being without his children for any longer and moved his family back to Rwanda. He is currently managing a hotel in Rwanda while attempting to acquire Canadian green cards for his family.
While certainly disappointed with his family’s return to Rwanda, Alsene is not overcome by sadness or anger. He is perhaps one of the most even-keeled people I have met. This attitude is not an accident; it is the attitude held by all survivors. “Every day is a blessed day,” he said. “That goes for every survivor.” Alsene speaks of how he does not get upset or angry about anything small because life is too short. “That’s why you’ll never see me sad,” he said. “We (survivors) are fortunate we have this extra time.”
Due to the limitations of his student visa, Alsene will not be able to attend medical school in the United States. Thus he is planning on relocating once again. “I’m always travelling,” said Alsene. “I’m good at getting use to and fitting in.” He then proceeded, “Wherever the wind takes me.” Pausing, he laughed and continued, “I like that one.” This fall the wind will carry Alsene to the Caribbean where he will attend St. James School of Medicine.
And with this extra time he has received there is one thing Alsene is sure to do - smile.
Baseball is a funny game as the results of back to back games between two teams can produce such opposite results. Saturday afternoon was a prime example of that as the Crusaders first lost to the Austin College ‘Roos, 10-4, before defeating the ‘Roos, 11-1 in the home doubleheader. Dallas took the rubber match of the series on Sunday afternoon in Sherman, Texas, defeating Austin College 14-10.
The Crusaders week began with a single 9 inning game against East Texas Baptist University on Tuesday (4/5). Dallas defeated ETBU, 15-1, as sophomore Andrew Laux (1-2) picked up the win as he scattered 5 hits and surrendered only 1 earned run in 7 solid innings of work. Junior Chris Schierhorn retired the final six batters of the game in order.
Dallas repeatedly made the Tigers’ pitchers pay for pitches over the plate, totaling 20 hits on the afternoon. The Crusaders scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning, 3 runs in the 3rd inning and 5 runs in both the 4th and 5th innings. Highlights included freshman Andrew Bossert’s 3 run home run, his second of the year and an incredible double play started by senior shortstop David Rettinger.
The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader proved to be an offensive nightmare for the Crusaders. It was not that the Dallas offense did not collect hits, but rather that the Crusader offense could not find a clutch hit. Dallas stranded 11 batters, including bases loaded situations in back to back innings. The highlights of the 10-4 Crusader lose included Bossert and sophomore Adam Farris combining to go 7-for-8 at the plate and junior Joel “Steven” Hansen throwing 3.2 innings of solid relief.
Between the first and second game of the doubleheader, head coach Fraser Holmes gave his team and talk on the mentality necessary to collect “clutch hits.” Junior centerfielder Brian Shelburne stated, “I think it was important to hear it from coach.” Shelburne added that the team “hadn’t executed (offensively) like we practiced.” Furthermore, Shelburne noted the importance of the young hitters hearing coach’s attitude on clutch hitting.
The results of Game 2 of the doubleheader seem to indicate that Coach Holmes’ pep talk on clutch hitting was effective as the Crusaders tallied 11 runs on 12 hits en route to an 11-1 victory. Before the offense batted, junior Michael Byers (6-2) took the mound for the Crusaders. Byers took a perfect game into the 5th inning before losing it on a leadoff single. Byers “hitting his spots was big for the defense,” stated Shelburne.
Offensively, the bats “came alive” as four Crusaders tallied multi-hit games. The bottom half of the order came up big for Dallas as Rettinger and DH Nico Caluda combined for 3 runs scored, 5 hits and 6 runs batted in (RBI). Senior catcher Delano Ponce had a good day at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs.
The Crusaders kept the offensive machine clicking on Sunday afternoon in Sherman, Texas as they scored 14 runs on 14 hits in their 14-10 victory over the ‘Roos. With the game knotted 4-4 in the 4th inning, Coach Holmes called on the reliable junior Michael Schweiss (7-1). Schweiss shut down the Austin College offense for 3 innings, allowing only 2 hits while striking out 3 batters. The Dallas offense put 6 runs on the board while Schweiss was in the game, giving him a 10-4 lead and his 7th victory of the season. Schierhorn and Laux combined to throw the final 3 innings of the game.
Shelburne ignited the Crusaders offense with a double in the 1st inning before he scored on a throwing error by Austin College. The Crusaders scored in every inning after that besides the 4th and 9th innings. As Coach Holmes stated after Sunday’s victory, “Once the offense caught fire, you just couldn’t put it out.”
The 8th and 9th hitters, Ponce and freshman Mark Carlson, combined for 3 runs, 3 hits and 4 RBIs in Sunday’s victory. Sophomore Trevor Allred, Rettinger, Ponce and Carlson each homered for the Crusaders whose game typically consists of small ball. Holmes praised the bottom of the batting order’s effort. “It was good that a lot of guys stepped up,” said Holmes. “That speaks loudly about the team as a whole.”
The Crusaders’ next opponent is ETBU who they will play on Tuesday (4/12). Dallas will then face #18 Trinity at home on Saturday (4/16) for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM. Dallas will honor several graduating seniors on Saturday’s Senior Day.
After a rough weekend series against nearby University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Dallas Crusaders bounced back with a blowout 15-1 victory over the East Texas Baptist University Tigers on Tuesday afternoon.
With both teams attempting to save their premier starters for weekend series, Dallas started sophomore Andrew Laux who entered winless, with a 4.44 ERA. Laux (1-2) was phenomenal in his first win of the year as he scattered five hits over seven innings, giving up only one earned run. The Crusaders offense was nearly as good as Laux as they put up 15 runs on 20 hits. Dallas began the scoring in the 2nd inning as catcher Varea Costello laid down a safety squeeze bunt which scored rightfielder Adam Farris from third base. Costello was safe as the Tigers first baseman, second baseman and pitcher all converged on the bunted ball. After Costello’s RBI bunt single, the Dallas offense unleashed a torrent of runs.
The Crusaders scored another run in the 2nd inning, three more runs in the 3rd and five runs in the 4th inning. With third baseman Trevor Allred and centerfielder Brian Shelburne on base, freshman Andrew Bossert put the exclamation on the victory by crushing a three run home run over the left field fence. The home run was Bossert’s second of the year and pushed his RBI total up to 18, the second highest total on the team.
Sophomore Chris Schierhorn pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game for the Crusaders. Schierhorn faced the minimum six batters, striking out one of those batters. Dallas (20-10) hosts Austin College (8-20) this Saturday (4/9) for a doubleheader beginning at 12 PM.
