Of the 11 healthy pitchers currently listed on the George Washington baseball roster, seven are freshmen.
The resulting inconsistencies have the Colonials of Foggy Bottom looking remarkably similar to their professional counterparts on East Capitol Street.
“We’re sort of juggling the rotation. Everyone we’re throwing out there is having some trouble. We’re like the Nationals, and that’s not a good thing,” said George Washington head coach Steve Mrowka.
It’s been a rollercoaster season for the Colonials (11-20, 3-6 Atlantic 10), who lost 11 of their first 12 games, then won seven of eight, but most recently have lost eight of their last 11 heading into this afternoon’s clash with George Mason in Fairfax.
The Patriots (14-17, 9-8 Colonial Athletic Conference) have had similar fits and starts. With 16 freshmen and nine sophomores — zero seniors — their youthful squad has shown remarkable promise at the plate,where they hit a combined .314. Yet, George Mason was held to two hits in a 12-0 loss to Delaware last weekend, a game that could be the low point for a group still adjusting to the length of the college season.
“It catches up with [freshmen] a little bit until they catch a second wind and get going again,” said Patriots head coach Bill Brown. “That’s what happened with Scott [Krieger] last year, he got hot going down to the wire and showed the type of power that he’s carried forward into this year.”
Krieger, a sophomore, leads the CAA with 13 home runs and tops the Patriots with a .386 average and 44 RBIs.
Senior shortstop Michael Parker (.364, 9 HR, 35 RBI) has been equally effective for George Washington, the best of a Colonials team whose .279 average is up from .250 last season.
Both teams are confident that like their crosstown heroes, they’re building for the future.
“The last time we were in a regional was 2004, and on that team the older kids had all played as freshmen,” said Brown. “We were doing the same things that we’re doing right now. You always keep the immediate in focus, but it gives you a chance to sit back at night and say, ‘I think we’re doing the right things here,’ and when this thing comes to fruition, we’ll be glad that we were patient with these young guys.”
Fracas in Fairfax
George Washington (11-20) at George Mason (14-17)
When » Today, 3 p.m.
