|
This past week, I took a drive around Bethel College and
noticed how the landscape has changed. There is a
picturesque softball park, football goal posts casting
their shadows on the outfield. In the distance, I saw
soccer goals parked behind the Roy N. Baker Fieldhouse,
home of the Lady Wildcat basketball and volleyball teams
and the Wildcat basketball team. As I took a right turn,
I saw the familiar old baseball field, a field that
looks a whole lot better than it did when I wore the
purple and gold.
At any given time during the day, you might notice a
dozen or so youthful joggers wearing Bethel Wildcat
garb.
Of course this is nothing new. Bethel has slowly been
establishing itself as a top-flight school for its
athletic programs. Some academicians may thumb their
noses to this notion, but even they will agree that the
Greeks, centuries ago, recognized that mind and body
work in concert.
Bethel isn't skimping on its academics. BC is doing
things "in addition to," not "instead of."
In the last six years or so, Bethel has become a
player on the national scene. The men's and women's
basketball teams have been to nationals. The BC football
team spent some time in the NAIA national rankings a few
years ago and is climbing the Mid South Conference
ladder. The softball team led the nation in hitting. The
women's basketball team has been among the national
offensive leaders. Women's soccer has made it to
nationals.
Tennis has been successful as has men's soccer and
baseball. And the BC athletes are doing it in the
classroom, too. BC slugger Aaron Johnson earned the
NAIA's Duer Award for academic excellence.
Consider these facts:
*Thursday, Erica Miller hurled a perfect game against
Williams Baptist as the Lady Wildcats swept their
visitors. These girls can play. They hit well, field
well and run the bases. The Lady Eagles had no answers
for BC. Don't be fooled by the 5-10-1 mark. As the
season progresses, they'll be a contender.
*That same Thursday, Bethel's baseball team defeated
Lambuth College in Jackson 10-6. This is the same
Lambuth team that defeated Tennessee-Martin 13-1 the day
before. That same UTM team just battled Yale and
Columbia last week.
Bethel coach Glenn Hayes had a pow wow with his
pitchers and catchers. It was a congenial chat that
produced results. And it gave hurler Josh Langley a
boost in confidence. He worked seven innings and
scattered five runs and eight hits. This came after he
struggled in his last outing.
Hayes believes his team could be .500 or better at
this point instead of 9-14-2. The Wildcats have scored
35 runs and given up only eight in this three-game
winning streak.
The victory over Lambuth could be a turning point for
this team.
*Also consider that this is the first time that Wildcat
basketball team, the Lady Wildcat basketball team and
the baseball team has defeated Lambuth in the same
academic year.
Bethel is used to using Lambuth, Union and
Freed-Hardeman as measuring sticks.
Perhaps there is a new sheriff in town? |
