By, SHANNON NESSERALLA, Student Reporter
Northwestern’s baseball team will play its first game of the season in Alva on Feb. 19. The team’s season ended after the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020.
The baseball team will play 32 teams during the 2021 season. Last year, the Rangers played a shortened season, with 24 games.
The Rangers ended their season on a four-game winning streak.
For the Rangers, senior Daschal Johnson returns to play for head coach Ryan Bowen.
“I’m ready to step back onto the field for my final year of eligibility,” Johnson said. “We have many returning seniors, and I feel like we seniors are ready to show up and show out on the field.”
Johnson has played his four years of eligibility for the Rangers. All senior players gained another year of eligibility because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“He is always the guy that has produced for us,” Bowen said of Johnson during a Great American Conference talk show released on Jan. 19. “He has been a consistent and steady player in my time here. He has been with me here in the program the whole time I have been here. He has just been a great team leader.”
Scott Creedon, a right-handed pitcher for the baseball team, said he is anxious for the season.
“With the season cut short last year, I’m ready to get on the field with my team and show everyone the hard work we’ve all put into this season,” Creedon said.
Bowen said on the talk show that he is excited about his group of pitchers in the program.
“Scott Creedon won some big games for us last year,” Bowen said. “He’s a work horse. He can go deep for us into the game.”
Great American Conference officials said Northwestern’s baseball team ranked eighth in the preseason coach’s poll article released on the conference’s website. Northwestern finished above four other Great American Conference member institutions.
— Sports Editor Dacoda McDowell-Wahpekeche contributed to this report.