Good news, baseball fans. Morris College in Sumter does plan to field a team in 2010, school AD and baseball coach Clarence Houck said in an e-mail I received tonight.
Morris didn't have a team in 2009, so I had e-mailed coach Houck to ask about the program's status and a possible 2010 schedule if a team was planned.
The team's return is good on two fronts: 1. It's another baseball team in state and, 2. It's at a Historically Black College and University.
Whites comprise the overwhelming majority of baseball rosters at most colleges. Major League Baseball is trying to get more African-Americans interested in baseball through its RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner cities) Program. Offering baseball as a means to help get a college education is a good incentive, too.
Perhaps the success of standout players like Jay Jackson (ex-Furman), DeAngelo Mack (ex-USC), Jackie Bradley Jr. (USC) and Chris Epps (Clemson) the past few seasons has encouraged some African-American youngsters in state to take a longer look at baseball.
Perhaps that will result in more players of color on college rosters in the next few year.
For the sake of baseball's growth, I hope so.
No comments:
Post a Comment