West Virginia Tech University Baseball ⚾️ puts the Student in the Student Athletes !!!

Well done 👏 Golden Bears 🐻!!

Five quick questions for Skipper Lawrence Nesselrodt as we approach our 18th Opening Day at West Virginia Tech University !

5 solid questions provided by out Conference !

. (#1) Hope Springs Eternal”

– for baseball enthusiasts a new season signifies the end of winter and the hope that spring is near. Our team will continue chasing after a championship that hasn’t been won by a TECH Baseball team since 1947. Since ‘08 we have set a school record three times for most wins in a season (40 in ‘16), played for the championship in ‘17 and reached semi-finals in ‘15, ‘16 and ‘24.

2). We will be lead by the depth of our pitching staff. We return several quality arms from last year’s team and have added some outstanding guys that are going to make an immediate impact. Offensively, we are replacing seven starters and will need to be as scrappy bunch that have to “do the little things well”.

3). Our guys excelled in every aspect during the fall semester. 8 weeks of Fall ball gave us a chance to evaluate the new guys, learn each other on and the field. Our team worked hard in the weight room, along with combined efforts in fundraising and community service activities. Our guys earned an exceptional 2.38 team GPA.

4). The biggest objective of each year is to develop a team culture that exhibits a “Will to Win, a respect for the game and a sense of identity. This year’s group needs to play good defense, pitch well and execute situational hitting. If you do the little things-the big thing will happen!

5). Energy, Enthusiasm & Excitement…

These guys enjoy being around each other and I’m confident that fans are going to see a team that is having fun. We have an outstanding group of coaches who are passionate about the game and are great teachers. Our Goal is to Win Championships along with achieving a 3.0 GPA. That combination of good teachers & students can make great entertainment at the ballpark.

Let’s Play Ball !!!

Our 18th season of Golden Bears 🐻 Baseball ⚾️ is set to begin in less than 2 weeks ! * Weather permitting

West Virginia Tech University Baseball is set to compete in the Clash of Conferences down in Tennessee once again this season ! February 6th and 7th are the dates and fingers crossed 🤞 that Mother Nature cooperates !

Home opener is set for February 21st in Beckley at Linda K Epling Stadium 🏟..

Diamonds 💎 are a Girls Best Friend : 18 years and counting alongside Lawrence ” Big Picture ” Nesselrodt

Rebecca and I had been working together on a special project for the Valley Baseball ⚾️ League roughly 20 years ago, when I first met Lawrence Nesselrodt and attached the moniker, Big Picture to his name.

We created a passport with a logo to be stamped at each of the 11 VBL parks ( credit for our actual Logo goes to our older daughter, Sabrena Carter Deal). The idea 💡 was to encourage fans of a team to find a way to visit all 11 parks during the 60 day season. The league back then had some runners if you will, Covington to the West and Haymarket to the North as examples.

We asked the owners of the teams to honor 🎖 their fans as they completed the Loop by allowing them to return to their home field and throw out a first pitch before a game. We also had a friend create Air Brushed windbreakers with their teams logos on it.

Rebecca and I applied our Math Skills to figure out a way to complete the Loop in the minimum period that it could happen. We both returned to Luray, tossed out our first pitches and then switched over to traveling back to other parks to help others celebrate their victory lap.

The first two people to complete the Loop after us was two fans of the Waynesboro Generals. Both ladies were Big Fans of their team and despite minimal incomes, they criss-crossed the Valley and it was time to celebrate with them.

The Generals were led by an intense looking Man, named Lawrence Nesselrodt. I will admit to being nervous about having to approach him about what was going to take place. Ness absolutely blew me away with his response to my request.

In a blink of an eye 👁, Skipper barked out to his entire roster and had his 25 players form a reception line. Every player took the time to say Thank You to the pair of dedicated fans. It’s a moment that I will never forget!

Sometimes people don’t have the ability to see the Big Picture, in this case Summer Baseball is paid for and driven by the fans and local businesses. It was the only time that fans who completed the Loop were treated in that manner.

Before leaving Kate Collins Field that day, I made the comment out loud that I would jump at the opportunity to work with Ness again and the story takes off from there…..

While West Virginia Tech University Baseball ⚾️ is still searching for its initial trip to Lewiston, Idaho for the NAIA College Word Series, some of our friends are out there this year !

53-5 is a gaudy record and we tagged GGC with one of those five setbacks last month in Beckley!

Jeremy Sheetinger in simple terms is a Class Act ! This young Man is a tremendous ambassador for the game of College Baseball. His hard hitting squad is a fun watch and easy to pull for, so we are hoping for nothing but the best for GGC out in Idaho.

Way back on February 8th we matched up with Brad Shelton and his Cumberlands squad. Shelton is another individual who represents the game in the best way possible.

The gentleman who is in charge of everything out in Idaho for the World Series is another friend of both the West Virginia Tech University Baseball program. Ronnie Palmer is also part of the extended OneofUs.Care Family 👪.

Palmer is just one of many people that I’ve met through the Baseball tree 🌳 that is Lawrence Nesselrodt, the long time Skipper of West Virginia Tech University Golden Bears 🐻.

Palmer left such an impression on me that he’s on a short list of folks that I would welcome another opportunity to work together.

We are incredibly proud of our Baseball family 👪 at WVU-T and it extends to a great deal of the Country.

While we wish we could be in Idaho this week, we’re thrilled that Jeremy and Brad made it and rest comfortably in knowing that Ronnie will take care of them !

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-naia-world-series-preview-predictions-top-players/

The link above is to the complete article from Baseball ⚾️ America.