VCU club baseball team enters second season

A month into the new school year, VCU varsity teams from field hockey to soccer can be seen roaming the campus in their practice gear. Another team roams the campus, blending in with other students.

On Sunday mornings, one can find the VCU Club Baseball team on the weed-ridden field of Maggie L. Walker Governor School, two blocks south of the Eugene P. and Lois E. Trani Life Sciences building.

Club baseball is the equivalent of junior varsity. The VCU Club Baseball Team, started by John Castiglioni last fall, consists of players who love the game but either weren’t fortunate enough to be picked up by the varsity squad or can’t put in the necessary time the varsity team requires.

“It offers an outlet to do something you love,” said Castiglioni, a senior and the club’s president.

This is the second year for club baseball at VCU and team officials are optimistic about the new season, kicking off the schedule with a doubleheader at Radford on Oct. 14.

“We’ve got more players and more talent,” said Vice President Brian Gusich, a second baseman.

Last year, the team of 27 players ended the season 5-6. This year, 32 players have shown up at the practice field, and there’s still room on the squad for more.

Mike Urbanski, the team’s treasurer, said last year was a catalyst for interest in the club team.

“Last year, the word got out after we got the ball rolling,” he said.

In an attempt to instill a stronger work ethic, Castiglioni and company hold team practicing at least once a week.

“You have to show up and work,” Castiglioni said. “Last year, we had a lot of individuals, but this year we’re going to be a team.”

In his second year as coach, Castiglioni is taking a different approach to decide playing time. The players in the starting lineup are those who are prompt and show great effort during practice. Castiglioni said he is looking for the hardest workers – not necessarily the most talented – to represent the starting nine and create a team atmosphere.

Changes were also made to the schedule this year. VCU will play more games – and for the first time, home games. In its first season, the team played all its games away.

The Petersburg Sports Complex was home to VCU’s varsity baseball team two years ago until the Diamond’s surface was refinished in Richmond.

The Petersburg complex will host the team’s home games.

“It’s a lot nicer than the fields I’m used to,” infielder Patrick Thacker said.

Thacker, a junior and second baseman, is one of the many new players on the roster. He is looking forward to the in-state and interstate competition.

“It’s a great opportunity to travel, compete and play with your friends at this age,” Thacker said.

The team is a member of the National Club Baseball Association. Its involvement in the NCBA allows the team to have a chance to compete for a national title at the end of the season. Many players will get their first taste of interstate competition since their youth travel teams.

The VCU team is scheduled to play teams from around Virginia. They include the University of Virginia, the College of William & Mary and Virginia Tech, as well as Elon University from North Carolina and possibly the University of Maryland.