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Baseball season in
review
Despite some bumps in the road this season, first-year head
coach Fran O’Brien is optimistic about the future. Holy
Cross posted an 11-28 record in the 2002 season, including
impressive wins against Bucknell, Duquesne, Harvard, the
2001 Patriot League Champion, and Navy, the 2002 Patriot
League champion.
The Crusaders started the season with three pitchers out
for the season with elbow and shoulder problems—each
of whom had started 40 percent of the games in 2001. However,
the team injuries allowed first-year players opportunities
that they otherwise would not have had. Jason C. Lynch ’05 (Arlington,
Va.) stepped into the rotation and pitched in 10 games. His
contributions included five starts against non-conference
opponents. Lynch finished the season tied for first in ERA
(2.81) and third in both innings pitched (41.2) and strikeouts
(22). He posted a 4-2 record (best winning percentage on
the team) and held the opposition to a .236 batting average.
Drew R. Bigda ’05 (Stamford, Conn.) and James
L. DeLucia ’04 (Hartsdale, N.Y.) also took advantage
of the opportunity for more playing time. The two pitched
in 17 games combined with five starts.
As expected, Michael B. Montano ’02 (Moodus,
Conn.) and Daniel J. (D.J.) Lucey ’03 (Shrewsbury,
Mass.) were also impressive. Montano posted a 2.81 ERA with
four complete games. He finished second in both innings pitched
(51.1) and strikeouts (25). Lucey, who broke a Holy Cross
record with most relief appearances (19) in 2001, moved into
the starting rotation this year making seven starts. He led
the team in innings pitched (54.1) and strikeouts (35), while
posting a 4-4 record with a 3.98 ERA and three complete games.
Second baseman Peter D. Summa ’02 (Florham Park,
N.J.) led the team in almost every hitting category for the
second straight year. He finished the season with the team
best .333 batting average, 41 hits, 24 runs, four homeruns,
19 RBI, 14 walks and .504 slugging percentage.
Other key players included Matthew J. McEvoy ’03 (Belmont,
Mass.), Dale M. Johnson ’03 (Beecher, Ill.) and Michael
C. Schell ’05 (Newton, Pa.). McEvoy has started
every game in the outfield for the past three seasons and
has yet to make an error in the field. He led the team with
eight doubles and now holds the Holy Cross career doubles
record at 38. Johnson started all 39 games behind the plate
and batted .273. He was named First Team All-Patriot League
after making 36 hits in 133 plate appearances and driving
in 12 runs while scoring 11. Johnson, who led the team with
a .333 batting average against the Patriot League opponents,
was the only player to make a repeat appearance on the first-team
squad this season. Schell started every game at shortstop
as a rookie and finished second on the team with 18 RBI.
The leadoff hitter batted .255 on 36 hits and led the team
with 141 at bats. He also scored 16 runs.
Holy Cross will lose just one starter from the field and
three from the pitching rotation. With almost the entire
team returning, the Crusaders have a promising 2003 season
in their future.
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