Roadrunner baseball ready for spring return

The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Roadrunners are eager to get back on the diamond and back to their winning ways this Spring. SFCC was on a four-game winning streak when the season came to an unexpected end last year thanks to COVID-19.

Roadrunners Head Baseball Coach Jud Kindle has been pleased with what he has seen from his team under the circumstances.

"Practices have gone well so far," said Kindle. "We've been pretty fortunate. We have had some great weather to get outside and get some things accomplished. Our guys are healthy and ready to go. Our returners have done a good job of leading our team in the right direction when it comes to going about their work the right way."

This Spring, SFCC will face what Coach Kindle called the toughest schedule that he has ever put together.

"We play some really good non-region teams," said Kindle. "Johnson County is ranked 13^th in the preseason poll. Hutchinson Community College and Kansas City Kansas Community College are always good. We really tried to improve our non-region schedule. It will be competitive all the way through."

SFCC is scheduled to open the season at Liberty Park Stadium-Dey Field on Tuesday, February 16 with a doubleheader against North Arkansas College. These games are part of a long home stand that will see the Roadrunners at home through Mar. 11 when they host Metropolitan Community College, in what will be the first of many stiff competitors from Region 16 teams.

"Crowder has once again put together an amazing team," said Kindle. "They are well coached and will be a front runner in Region 16. I expect all the teams in our region to be better this year. It is going to be a tough year."

Kindle is optimistic this squad will be bigger and able to hit more balls into the gaps this season. Like previous teams, Kindle has built this team's pitching around pitcher's styles and abilities.

"We're not a bunch of power arms," said Kindle. "We will see a ton of arms working through lineups on a situational basis."

The pitching staff will be led by sophomores Jared Stephens of Neosho and Connor Barnes of Boonville. The SFCC offense will be led by redshirt sophomore outfielder Tommy Ruether of Washington.

Coach Kindle has been pleased with the play of a couple of newcomers in the preseason.

"Brandon Stahlman of Washington has definitely gotten better defensively at shortstop," said Kindle. "His work ethic is unreal and should see success. On the mound, Jalen Rogers of Lee's Summit is a guy who has really come along for us, he will be one of the guys at the back end of our bullpen."

Coach Kindle and the Roadrunners have goals they would like to accomplish both on and off the field this season.

"Our number one goal this year is to earn academic honors as a team from the NJCAA," said Kindle. "We would like to host and win a Sub Regional this year. Our third goal is to try and win a Region Championship."

Kindle sees two keys to accomplishing those goals.

"We have to focus on small things and not look at the big picture," said Kindle. "We have to take it inning by inning and game by game."

David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics