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Letter to the editor

Sawyer builds on fast start at Yale

By Times Staff
Published June 5, 2005

Marc Sawyer's first college at-bat at Yale was a three-run home run. That was his freshman year and the Canterbury graduate has started every game since.

Sawyer led his team in hitting each of his two seasons and was named team MVP this year. Last year, he shared the honor.

The left-handed first baseman was selected to the All-Ivy League first team this season.

"All I can say is, I'm glad Marc's on our side," Yale coach John Stuper said. "His freshman year, I sat him the first couple games. After his first at-bat, I've had him in the third slot the rest of the time."

Sawyer, 19, takes success in stride. High expectations have influenced him from an early age.

"I knew that I had worked hard to be prepared to be here and wasn't all that surprised in doing well," Sawyer said. "I've always had high expectations for myself and felt I could hang with the college guys, even though I was just coming in."

Sawyer started playing around age 5 with the Seminole Junior Warhawks. At about the same time, he took up tennis.

"It was always baseball and tennis, even though I tried some other sports and was real involved in BMX racing when I was about 7," Sawyer said. "I always felt in my heart that baseball was what I wanted to pursue. When I was a junior in high school, I decided my future would be in baseball."

A few Ivy League coaches saw him at a camp at Princeton after his junior year. A followup visit to Yale clinched Sawyer's choice.

"I was always interested in attending a high-quality Ivy League school," Sawyer said.

"A special highlight for me is leading the team in average both seasons, plus being a leader by my actions. I'm not that vocal a guy on the field, but I try to lead by example."

Sawyer's leadership this season included a team-leading .353 hitting average, 55 hits, a school record 16 doubles and 77 total bases.

A team goal includes winning the Ivy League, something Sawyer thought Yale might have done this season.

Sawyer credits former professional player Tony Ferreira for improvements in his game and his parents for supporting him in his efforts to get closer to his goal.

"I expect to see even more improvements in Marc in these next two years at Yale," Stuper said. "He's working on a few things this summer, especially improving his core strength. He's playing in the Cape Cod League, a good wooden bat league, and that will help him."

MORE BASEBALL: A stellar season for Embry-Riddle senior Kenny Holmberg (Dunedin) has resulted in his selection as a first-team NAIA All America.

This weekend, Holmberg and the Eagles play for the 49th Annual Avista NAIA World Series Championship. Led by Holmberg at the plate, the Eagles fought back from the losers bracket to reach Friday's final with Oklahoma City.

Holmberg followed the 6-3 win over Biola, that included a double, home run and two RBIs with a three-hit, four RBI performance against Oklahoma City to reach the title game. In both games, Holmberg was a hit shy of hitting for the cycle.

Tim Bascom (Dunedin) hurled UCF's first postseason shutout since 1998. The sophomore held Gardner-Webb to seven hits and struck out six for his 10th win of the season.

Seveal Pinellas graduates competed in last month's Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.

Jonathan Shapland (Clearwater Central Catholic/St. Petersburg College) of Florida Atlantic was named to the All-Tournament team. He drove in four in a 5-3 win over UCF that eliminated the Golden Knights.

Senior pitcher Jason Costello (Clearwater) pitched 12/3 innings in relief for Florida Atlantic, allowing two hits and a run while posting two strikeouts.

In the loss, Mike Billek (East Lake) pitched seven innings for UCF, collecting four strikeouts and allowing three earned runs on six hits.

In the A-Sun championship game, FAU fell 8-0 to Stetson. Senior righty Ryan Heacox (Shorecrest) earned the win, hurling a three-hit shutout in 52/3 innings.

Freshman David Golliner (Northside Christian) was the starting catcher for Stetson and hit .305 with 58 hits.

Elsewhere, second baseman Chris Perry (Pinellas Park) was one of nine players averaging over .300 for Florida Gulf Coast. The junior scored the third most runs with 36 and was fourth in hits with 47.

Sophomore righty Jason Kiley (Palm Harbor University) was 5-3 with a 5.17 ERA for Florida Gulf Coast.

Righty Adam Krieger (Countryside) was 4-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 501/3 innings at UNC Greensboro. In the Southern Conference tournament the freshman pitched the ninth inning of an 8-2 loss to College of Charleston.

Hillsborough Community College's Nolan Brannon (St. Petersburg) was named to the All-Suncoast Conference second team. The freshman hit .304 with two home runs, three triples and seven doubles. Brannon played catcher, first and second base.

Zach Wendkos (Shorecrest) started 37 games for Princeton and hit .328, the team's third highest.

SOFTBALL: Mercer senior Kerri Ryskamp (Countryside/Central Florida CC) was named to the A-Sun second team. Ryskamp was fourth in the conference in home runs (13) and sixth in slugging percentage (.674).

In Mercer's final game, Ryskamp hit her 22nd career homer, third in school history.

Jessica Brinkman (Palm Harbor University/Florida Southern) pitched and played first for Florida Gulf Coast. The righty posted a 3.32 ERA.

CREW: Sean MacDougall (Tarpon Springs) completed his senior season on Navy's heavyweight team. The 2005 graduate was one of four seniors on the squad and walked on as a freshman.

ICE HOCKEY: John Hallas (St. Petersburg), a product of the Tampa Bay Junior Lightning, is a redshirt sophomore goalie for St. Lawrence in New York.

--News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan,796-5559; e-mailed to namorgan46@msn.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified June 5, 2005, 02:15:25]