Row 1: G. Fyock, M. Duke, K. Offen backer, T. Stanford, A. Smithey, B. Smith, B. Bradley, C. Hardy, K. Atkins, B. Ninemire. Row 2: J. Anderson, J. McCreary, L. Denton, C. Walker, A. Guglielmi, M. Calhoun, P. Anzalone, S. Kinnear, C. Presley, E. McCarver. Row 3: T. Keith (grad. asst.), P. McGaha (coach), J. Spears, A. Fiddler, N. Ford, L. Waddell, J. Bohnett, H. Shirley, L. Holthaus, R. Modglin, K. Lane, J. Giles, J. Tenhouse (asst. coach), A. Schatzley (asst. coach). After making their first appearance in the Gulf South Conference South Region tournament in spring 2011, the Bison baseball team had high hopes for victory in the new year. The team began well, winning seven straight games, and went on to win 18 out of the next 24 games, but, according to junior pitcher Cameron Walker, it all went downhill mid-way through the season, which ended with a final record of 24-25. Although the season did not end as the Bisons expected, there were several successes, leaving the team with reason to celebrate. Senior starting pitcher Hayden Shirley, who was out for a year with an extensive elbow injury, went into the season excited and ready to be back. "After working that full year ... it was very rewarding to be able to see all the hard work pay off," Shirley said. "My coaches helped me a lot to push me and to always be there for me and same with my teammates. My teammates were always pushing me and encouraging me." Shirley said recovery was long and sometimes unbearably painful, but he knew he would come out stronger. "Every time he went out, he competed," Walker said. "He's an animal. He came in and did what he was supposed to do." Senior starting pitcher Lucas Waddell also made a name for himself when he ended the season with 20 career wins. With one remaining season of eligibility, Waddell set himself Diamond in the Rough Pitchers shine through difficult season up to break Harding's previous record of 21 career wins, set in 2003. "It is really cool to be in this position, and I am excited I have the opportunity to keep competing," Waddell said. "I am very fortunate and very thankful to have played on some great teams here at Harding. Wins are a team statistic. Defense doesn't put runs on the board, offense does. It's scoring runs ttiat win games. I've just tried my best to make it so my team doesn't have to score as many." Walker, Shirley and Waddell agreed that without the brotherhood of the team, the pitchers' success would not have been possible. "Our team bonded really well," Walker said. "All of the players are like brothers, not only in Christ, but we think of each other as real brothers ... I guess like a family." Having only three seniors graduate, this brotherhood of Bisons looked forward to playing the next season as a more experienced team. "The fact that we have the majority of the guys returning gives us a head start and allows us to grow on the team bond we already established last year," Waddell said. "I am excited to see what will happen when we play to the best of our abilities, but I am more excited to see us grow closer to each other and God." Jordan Honeycutt Baseball Est. 1958 1277
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