From the Booth #2: An Interview with Zach McCulley

This is the second post in a six post series featuring the Cornell At Bat broadcasting team. These posts will appear throughout the Fall semester. For part one of the series, click here. 

One hallmark of any successful baseball team is depth on the mound. Following a strong 2012 season where Cornell set a program record 31 victories and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time ever, the hopes for repeating as Ivy League champions will largely rest on the team’s pitching staff. Adding to the already deep Big Red staff will be 6-foot-5 left handed transfer Zach McCulley.

The tall and lanky southpaw from Faulkner State Community College boasts a solid three pitch mix with an upper eighties fastball, a solid breaking ball, and a changeup. McCulley brings real experience to the team, and will be a welcome addition to the Big Red stockpile of arms.

Cornell At-Bat sat down with Zach to talk baseball, his journey to Cornell, and how through it all, his faith guides him. Read the interview after the jump.


Me: “Hey Zach, thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. How’s it going?”

Zach: “You got it, man. My pleasure.”

“Let’s get right into it, shall we? We’ll start you off with an easy one to get it started. Where are you from originally?”

Zach: I was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, way down south. It’s much warmer there than up here, as I’m starting to learn, but it was really just a solid place to grow up.

It’s definitely a bit of culture shock, coming up north. Could you tell us a little bit about why you did choose to come to Cornell?

Zach: Well, being a transfer, this is the fifth school I’ve been at. William & Mary, Pensacola State, NW Florida State, and Faulkner State. Cornell was just the right fit for me and my family. It’s obviously a good mix of baseball and academics. After about a year and a half of reevaluating where I was going in life, I realized this was just the right place that God wants me.

Definitely. Can you take us through your personal path and how you traveled through all those different places?

Zach: Out of high school, I went to play baseball at William & Mary, but after a semester there I decided to transfer. Baseball wasn’t taken too seriously there and neither were academics and some of the other things outside of baseball. It was a real loose environment, and wasn’t really a fit for me. Spring semester of my freshman year, I was actually out of baseball and just went to school [at Pensacola] and that gave me a bit more time to reevaluate where I wanted to go with as far as baseball is concerned, and how I was going to let faith determine my path. Through the other two junior colleges, I was able to prepare to come here by getting the most innings possible under my belt.

How long did this whole process take, start to finish and eventually winding up here at Cornell?

Zach: It was about January of my freshman year until this past August when I committed here. It was a solid chunk of time spent just searching.

I think that speaks to your mental toughness, being able to go through that. Can you describe your season last year?

Zach: Junior College baseball is A LOT different from here. It’s a real blue collar environment in the respect that you’re doing field maintenance almost just as much as you’re doing actual work pitching or hitting. That really helps, though. We were more pals than teammates. It was really like an extension of high school baseball. We had a good run though as a team, and got to go down to Ozark, Alabama (the middle of nowhere) for our conference championships. It’s definitely a lot different from Ivy League athletics.

Did you work at any other positions?

Zach: (laughing) They didn’t want me to drop any bombs. It wouldn’t be fair for anyone.

(laughing) I see. Did you primarily start or come out of the bullpen?

Zach: My first appearance was actually out of the ‘pen and it was rather shaky. I came in with the bases loaded and preceded to cash ‘em in with a home run. That was definitely a humbling experience. They figured I wasn’t too good out of the ‘pen, so from there I started.

Ouch, that’s rough, but I suppose it worked out for the better. Off the field, what do you see yourself doing post-graduation?

Zach: To be honest, my answer to that question has probably changed a lot in the last year and a half. Initially I wanted to come here to make a lot of money (laughing). That’s what the word is. You go to an Ivy League school, you get a sweet job, and you’re set. But then I really started to understand the Gospel and what it means to have true faith in Jesus Christ. My goals have shifted and I’m not really sure where I’ll end up, but I’m hoping it’s a place where my faith can be exhibited through my job field and my entire life.

Do you see yourself staying in the game somewhere?

Zach: I can’t really imagine what it would be like to not have anything to do with baseball. I feel like the game will always have a place in what I’m doing, but honestly, I don’t know. I’d like to say so, but I just don’t.

What else are you involved with here on campus?

Zach: I’m involved with a few things here or there. I’m actually a member of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and that’s a group that’s starting to grow and mature together. I’m also involved with another Christian Fellowship on Campus, CRU, and that’s really allowed me to meet a lot of great guys who share faith in Christ as well. It’s definitely important to get plugged into a community that you can grow together with. Other than that, I’m a semi-pro/amateur Ping-Pong phenom. A lot of time is spent their working on my game (laughs).

That’s awesome, definitely important to get connected. I’m going to give you a couple lighter questions here, rapid-style fire, ready?

Zach: Oh yeah.

Favorite team?

Zach: Braves. Or anyone that’s winning and/or has soft-tossing lefties.

When did you start playing?

Zach: When I was 3 and a half, got some pre-teeball action going on.

Were you always a lefty?

Zach: They actually tied my right arm behind my back. It was actually a little bit shorter than my left arm growing up. They took it seriously in my house (laughs).

Did your dad play baseball?

Zach: He did in high school, but he was a football guy and played at Navy. He broke all his knees, so he never had me play. I’ve always been baseball.

Starter or Reliever?

Zach: I had a good fall, was healthy. We have a lot of solid pitchers, and I think there’s 8 left-handers. There’s going to be a lot of competition, and I’d like to start. Hopefully within three-years that’ll happen.


Compared to fellow lefty,Cole Hamels for his
stature, McCulley hopes to perfect his craft like the Phillies' ace

 

Any other position you’d like to play?

Zach: Hmmm….

I know you’re a left and all of y’all like to tell me shortstop-

Zach: (laughs) I was leaning toward short, but I’ll go with catcher. I’d like to get dirty, throw my body in front of those balls in the dirt.

Very nice. If you could do dinner with three people, who would it be?

Zach: Oh man. Wow, well first off, it would have to be Jesus Christ. Christ died for me, and if I could speak to him at dinner, wow, I don’t think there could be a greater joy a man could have. Second, I’d have to go with the apostle Paul. The biggest thing that I’ve found in my faith is that I haven’t been bold enough when I could’ve been. Throughout the gospel you see that Paul is the boldest guy there is. Third, oh man, that’s a tough one. Let’s go with Stonewall Jackson. General Stonewall Jackson, one of the toughest men that ever lived.

(laughing) Stonewall Jackson? Wow, do you know why he’s called Stonewall?

Zach: I’d imagine it’s because he’s American, he fears nothing, and I heard he had rock-hard abs. Stonewall abs.

(chuckles) Excellent. How about pre-game, any routines/supersitions?

Zach: No superstitions but I like to get away from the guys a bit, collect my thoughts, talk to God and read a little scripture. I think last Spring, that was something that I picked up a lot. It puts into perspective what you do on the field and what you really stand for.

Is there any one verse that is your “go to” that you carry out with you onto the field?

Zach: Isaiah 40:31. It basically says that those who trust in the Lord will not grow weary, will renew their strength, and will soar on wings like eagles. Going on the mound, if you really believe that, all your anxiety just becomes so trivial. It’s like, “If I truly believe this, nothing is going to stand in my way.”

That’s awesome. Do you have any signature moments so far from your time with the team?

Zach: I’ll go with this Fall season. I had a good start, and after a few outings, I was probably floating a little too high. So naturally, I had a pretty humbling experience which has definitely turned into one of the best experiences so far. Chris Cruz hit a homerun. Belt-high fastball. It cleared the bases. I kind of sulked on that one for a few days, but that one really helped bring me down a bit. It reminded me to keep a level head and always to work hard. Welcome to the Ivy League, courtesy of Chris Cruz

You’re definitely not the first-

Zach: That’s what I’ve heard (laughing).

As we wrap up, what is your bottom line, number one reason for playing baseball here at Cornell?

Zach: I’m convinced that the reason I’m here is to use baseball as a pedestal for what I believe. I think if I wasn’t using this game to do that, to share my faith, than I’d be wasting my time. It’s obviously a privilege to be playing baseball at this level, but the bottom line, when it all comes down to it, I’m playing baseball to glorify God, and that’s not just to be cliché, but it’s what it comes down to.

And one final question, a real tough one. What’s one thing people don’t know about you?

Zach: I thought of this question earlier, and I’ve actually got a few. This first one needs to be taken seriously. I was 3rd grade spelling bee champion. There was a little discrepancy with how the word ‘which’ is spelled. Witch or which? I actually got a silver medal for that little performance, but the teacher never specified which spelling one was right. Not many people know that, but I WAS that 3rd grade spelling bee champion.

You just want to set the record straight?

Zach: Yeah, that needs to be out there (chuckles). Also, something else people need to know, and hopefully are getting to know is that I’m a Christian and I believe in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dying and rising from the dead for me. I think hopefully that becomes better known as time goes on. And I’ve got one more thing as well. You know Trent Richardson, right?

Of course.

Zach: Trent Richardson, who now is the running back for the Cleveland Browns, who went to ‘Bama and did work there is from Pensacola, my hometown. In the fall of 2009, he was playing against Tate High School, home of the Mighty Fighting Aggies. Trent goes up for a fast break dunk, and gets it thrown not two rows deep, but at least three or four. Just double-handed block, into the stands. Trent Richardson, world-class athlete, swatted.

Wait, you blocked him?

Zach: Oh did I. This thing was sent. I packaged it up, wrapped it and sent it on its way.

Did you let out any guttural sounds as you landed on the court?

Zach: Oh yeah, I let out a few screams, ripped my jersey a little bit, and I think I started waving my finger at him.


And he didn’t take exception to that?

Zach: (Laughing) Nah, well he’s obviously a lot stronger than I am, but I think after that swat, he got the picture, you know, who his daddy was. In other words, I am Trent Richardson’s daddy. That’s what people need to know about me.

And on that note, let’s call it a day. Thanks so much, Zach, for sharing with us. We wish you best of luck this season and hopefully a lot of opposing teams meet “their daddy” with you on the mound this Spring.

Zach: My pleasure.

For more information on Cornell At Bat or if you want to get involved, contact Alex Gimenez email at ajg322@cornell.edu. For previous Cornell At Bat adventures, look here, here, here, here, and here.  

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From the Booth: A Cornell At Bat Blog Series

This is the first post in a six post series featuring the Cornell At Bat broadcasting team. These posts will appear throughout the Fall semester. For previous Cornell At Bat adventures, look here, here, here, here, and here.  

The 2012 season brought about many changes for the Big Red baseball team. Among those changes were their on field success taking them to their first NCAA Regional since 1977 and the foundation of a broadcasting program, Cornell At Bat, that brought them much deserved coverage.

In its inaugural season, Cornell At Bat and a very dedicated broadcast team brought nine regular season home games and five playoff games to the airwaves through Slope Media’s radio department at Cornell.  We were able to learn the ins and outs of covering a college baseball team and were on air for some of the team’s biggest moments in the history of the program. 

From Connor Kaufmann’s no hitter against Dartmouth to the Big Red’s Ivy League Championship Series over Dartmouth on Chris Cruz’s 11^thinning walk off home run, we were able to show fans just how good this team was.  After getting a taste of the experience last season, we have dedicated ourselves to bringing about much more coverage for the team immediately and for years to come.

This season, we have added new members to our broadcast team and at this time, have a very solid nine person team that includes Jesse Sherman, Adam Kirsch, Gabe Cassillo, Eddie McNelis, Kenny Kirschenbaum and myself from the class of 2015, and Cassandra Vilmenay, Alex Garcia, and Chad Edelblum from the class of 2016.  We have laid out a 24 game broadcast schedule including away games for the first time.  We have been given unprecedented access to the clubhouse by the coaching staff and armed with new top of the industry equipment, and we hope to bring about coverage that no Ivy League sports team has ever seen.

Our coverage includes expanding our following through social media, writing newspaper stories on the team for local Cornell publications, providing a weekly radio show dedicated to the team (with players and coaches joining us on the show), broadcasting games with video or on AM/FM radio stations in Ithaca, and using our own blog to give in depth analysis of the team and the players. 

With this blog post I am introducing a series that will be featured right here on the ILR Sports Business Society’s blog.  These posts will be written by some of our staff members, and we hope that they will help you understand what we do while getting more information on the team out there to you.  We tried to lay out topics that fit in well with the ILRSBS goals. I hope you enjoy them.  Stay tuned for our next post on how the Big Red will look to fill the roles left by last year’s seniors. 

For more information on Cornell At Bat or if you want to get involved, shoot Alex an email at ajg322@cornell.edu. 

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Sherman's Road to the Regional: Part 3

This is part three of a three-part series following one of the lead broadcasters for Cornell Big Red baseball. Make sure to read Part One HERE and Part Two HERE.

Saturday brought a new day and perhaps even more anticipation than Friday’s game did, as we knew that one more loss would send the Big Red packing. But the opening games gave us good reason to be confident going into the elimination game against ECU. Cornell had brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth against Michael Morin and the UNC Tar Heels while ECU had struggled against the St. John’s Red Storm in their Friday afternoon contest, falling 11-3. We also had freshman starter Brian McAfee on the hill for the Saturday game. McAfee is no stranger to pitching well in elimination games; he started and threw 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits the final game of the regular season. The Big Red went on to defeat Princeton 4-3 in 12 innings to win the Lou Gehrig division and clinch a spot in the Ivy League Championship series. And just less than a month prior to the NCAA regional, McAfee started the third and decisive game of the aforementioned Ivy League Championship Series against Dartmouth at Hoy Field, allowing only one run on four hits over six strong innings in the 3-1 victory that took 11 innings. However, we had the feeling that a lot of hitting was in store for us on Saturday, as the Big Red offense seemed to be firing on all cylinders, while the Pirates managed to knock 11 hits in their Game 1 loss. Our expectations for Saturday’s contest came to fruition.


After McAfee and ECU Senior starter Kevin Brandt each threw two shutout innings to start the game, ECU struck first. Designated hitter Drew Reynolds belted a solo home run to deep right field to give his team a 1-0 lead in the third. Then, ECU shortstop singled to left field to extend the lead to 2-0 in the 4th inning.

Making an early comeback certainly did not present a threat the Big Red, as they proved in the bottom half of the 4th inning. Brian Billigen led off the inning with a lead off single, Chris Cruz was hit by a pitch, and Frank Hager reached on an error to load the bases with no one out. There was no hitter on the team that you would want up in this situation than senior catcher Brandon Lee. He was 4 for 6 in the regional prior to his 4th inning at bat and there was no doubt that he was looking to do some damage.

He did not wait very long.

On the first pitch of the at-bat, Lee roped a single into center field to move everyone up a base and give his club the first run of the game and cut the score to 2-1. Tom D’Alessandro and Ben Swinford followed suit with RBI singles of their own, and Marshall Yanzick was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Big Red had a 4-2 lead after 4 innings of play, and we thought that giving Brian McAfee a lead was exactly what we needed. Unfortunately, the game seemed to take a turn for the worse after the 4th inning rally.

ECU struck back with five runs of their own after batting around in the order. McAfee hit a batter and allowed a base hit. In addition, first baseman Frank Hager couldn’t handle a throw at first base that cost the team a run, and McAfee couldn’t seem to put hitters away in two-strike counts. When it was all said and done, McAfee had been knocked out of the game after 4.2 innings pitched, allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits. Was there another comeback in store for the resilient Cornell Big Red baseball team?

We certainly thought there was a chance in the 5th, as the ECU lead was cut to 7-6 after another RBI hit by Brandon Lee and a bases loaded hit by pitch for Ben Swinford. But perhaps the biggest blow came in the two-out bases loaded situation for the Big Red. In a 1-2 count to Marshall Yanzick, ECU Tyler Joyner seemed to drop his hand out of his glove while standing on the pitcher’s rubber, a movement that would normally result in a balk that would have advanced all of the runners and tied the game at 7-7. However, none of the umpires recognized the illegal movement and the runners stayed put. On the very next pitch, Yanzick struck out swinging to end the inning in frustrating fashion. ECU never looked back. The Pirates added three more runs in the seventh and secured a lead that they would not relinquish. The Big Red, who were so accustomed to making comebacks in do-or-die situations, were not able to recover and ultimately lost the slugfest by a final score of 10-6.

When the final out was recorded on a Kevin Tatum ground ball to the shortstop, it was a very surreal moment for us in the broadcast booth and certainly for the players and coaches down on the field. The storied season had come to an end in fitting fashion, as the tying run was in the on-deck circle before the final out was made. It was time for everyone to reflect on how successful the season really was; Cornell baseball made a name for itself on a national level with its competitive play against two tough teams in UNC and ECU, and the road to the regional presented many moments in which the team had to overcome adversity.

As the entire team congregated in shallow left field, it was evident to Alex and me that Coach Walkenbach could not be doing anything but congratulating his team for their performance over the weekend and throughout the entire season, as their efforts this season had made their families, the student body, and the Cornell community nothing but proud. It was a tough postgame wrap up for us, as we were certainly ready to continuing watching our team and calling their games at the beautiful facilities at Boshamer Stadium in North Carolina.

Cornell At-Bat wrapped up its inaugural season by recapping the elimination game, looking at the positives that the team should take into next season, and most importantly, thanking everyone who made our trip to UNC possible in the first place. We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the baseball coaching staff and the players for being so welcoming to us and allowing us to join their incredible journey to the NCAA regional. The staff of Cornell’s Athletic Communications team allowed us to create and record the broadcasts and worked to make our travel plans as convenient as possible, and our experience would not have been the same without them. We also have to thank Rich Booth, whose support and enthusiasm for Cornell athletics was the reason that everyone was able to have such a memorable weekend at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Cornell At-Bat is just getting started, and we’re looking forward to continuing our coverage of Big Red baseball. Thanks to our listeners and supporters, and we hope you continue following us for years to come.

Gimenez's Road to the Regional: Part 2

This is part two of a three-part series following one of the lead broadcasters for Cornell Big Red baseball. Make sure to read part one HERE. 


Game day always brings with it a ton of excitement.  As a player, it was more nerves than pure excitement because I actually had to perform on the field; but in the booth, it's just pure excitement.  However, as Jesse and I got ready to call the first game of an NCAA Regional for the Big Red since 1977, I’ll admit I was a bit nervous.  I knew we would be making history when we turned on the mics and the Big Red took the field, so the buildup was huge.  Now imagine all of that and add to it the fact that I had been preparing for these games since Cruz hit his walk off home run to bring us here and that Jesse and I had been preparing tirelessly for two straight days.  I couldn’t wait any longer, so it was nice to finally get to Boshamer Stadium on Friday, June 1.

After watching a few innings of the first game of the regional between St. John’s and East Carolina, I made my way up to the press box to start getting ready.  The facilities for both players and the press at UNC are second to none in college baseball, so we were spoiled throughout our time in Chapel Hill.  The press box has a terrific set up just like that of a big league box.  We had our own visitor's radio booth behind the plate equipped with an LCD TV and plenty of room to spread ourselves out and get organized.  We had more than enough free amenities, such as access to food and drinks, and most importantly,  gummy bears.  I didn’t realize how convenient those would be for us, but between Jesse and I, we must have left the booth at least ten times to grab a cup full. 

We had about 50 minutes to set ourselves up in the booth, which was plenty of time to get things ready.  As some of you may know, for the majority of the season, we were broadcasting games using three computers connected to a feed that brought with it many complications.  For this series, all we had to do was plug in the laptop, turn on the program, and hit start when we were ready, and trust me, that took a lot of pressure off me because I didn’t have to worry about the technical side of broadcasting games.  I set up my lineups and stats in my scorebook, tacked up information on each team to the tack board, and prepared my player cards.  As a broadcaster, you establish a system that works for you and you stick to it, and for me it involves creating informational cards for the starters for each team.  These cards have everything from the players’ height and weight to their stats and current trends.  By doing this, I have all the information I need at my fingertips, and because I prepare the cards myself, I don’t even really need them because I remember what I wrote.  I keep more in-depth information and rosters close at hand and always have my laptop open and ready to search for information I don’t have. 

We were finally ready to go, and I was ready to turn on the microphone and get started with our pregame show.  I turned it on, hit start, and then realized I had no idea what I was going to say.  I didn’t have much time to decide so I went with “And it’s a beautiful day for baseball here at Boshamer Stadium at UNC Chapel Hill in North Carolina” and with that we were finally underway.  I was so excited to get the game started. When you speculate and try to predict what will happen in a game for weeks, it's refreshing to see the first pitch finally thrown because now you will actually see the final result. 

The first few innings went by rather quickly and I was impressed with the level of play early.  I’ve watched the Big Red in many games over the past year and the way they were able to match UNC early was impressive.  Rick Marks was on the mound for the Big Red and the senior, who lead the team's starters in ERA, was a good choice.

Marks was up to the challenge, and through three innings, the score was 1-0 UNC, with Marks looking dominant on the mound.  In the second inning, the Tar Heels had the bases loaded with nobody out and I got to call one of the greatest defensive plays I’ve ever seen.  I played shortstop for the majority of my high school career so I really appreciate great defensive plays from that position.  What Marshall Yanzick did was like something out of a movie.   On a pop fly down the left field line that looked like it was going to drop in no man's land, Yanzick might as well have put on a Super Man cape.  He ran what must’ve been a good 30-40 feet before throwing his entire body into the air to reel in the catch.  Jesse compared it to making a majestic head first dive into a swimming pool and he hit it right on the head with that description.  Even the UNC fans gave Yanzick a standing ovation on the play. 

With the score 1-0 after three I had scribbled a note on my scorebook that read “I’m not impressed after 3 innings.”  After all the hype that we had been hearing about the #6 ranked UNC Tar Heels, I was expecting more from them and really started to believe that the Big Red had a shot at stealing the game away.  I didn’t get a chance to say that on the air because in the 4^th, UNC scored four runs to put us behind 5-0.  I know I was pulling so hard for Cornell, and it must’ve come through on the air.  I was hoping that somehow we would be able to make a comeback.  In the 6^th, I was hopeful the Big Red would get something going. They had hit UNC Starter Hobbs Johnson well in the fifth but had nothing to show for it.  Brian Billigen came to the plate with a runner on first and nobody out.  I had noted that now would be a great time for his first hit in a regional, and he had gotten ahead in the count 2-0.  I had a good feeling and then,

“That ball is driven high in to the air to right center field, its going back, way back, it is gone!” 

Billigen allowed me to sneak in a sigh of relief as he had cut the lead down to 5-3.  When you call a homerun or big play, you always hope to do it justice with your call, and I was very happy with the call, and more importantly, the outcome.

After Billigen made it rain with his home run, actual rain halted the game in the 6^th, and we had an exclusive opportunity to interview Rich Booth, a Cornell baseball alum and big time donor to the program.  Booth made it possible for me to have one of the coolest experiences in my life, and I couldn’t thank him enough for supporting our broadcast.  Interviewing him on the air was just one way I was going to try.  He had a lot of great things to say and really kept us on our toes during the delay.  This was the first time I had ever interviewed anyone live on the air, and it as a great experience for me that just added to the excitement of the game at hand.  The action resumed, and the Big Red scored another run. We were one step closer to tying the game.  After some more back and forth, we suddenly found ourselves in the top of the ninth in a 7-4 ballgame.

I wanted the Big Red to come back more than anything you can imagine, and I was standing for the entirety of the bottom of the 9^th.  Brian Billigen walked on a full count pitch and then Chris Cruz gave me a bit of a scare.  On a 2-0 pitch he swung, instead of taking, but he lined it in to right field for a hit and the Big Red brought the tying run to the plate with nobody out.  I was hanging on every pitch, and upon listening to myself later, I could hear my excitement and nerves in my voice.  I wasn’t scared for me, I just wanted this team to show everyone watching what they’ve done well all year: make a late inning comeback.  UNC wouldn’t humor me with that request, as the Tar Heel closer slammed the door, retiring the next three Cornell hitters.

The first game of the NCAA Regional for the Big Red was over, and for me, it was one of the most gut wrenching and exciting games of my life.  I wish they could’ve pulled out the victory, but every one watching or listening to us knew one thing: the Big Red were for real.  UNC head coach said it best in a post game press conference when he claimed that he enjoyed watching Cornell play this game more than he did his own team. There was no doubt in my mind that the we could win our game tomorrow, and if we were matched up against UNC later on, that we could beat them.

Check out part three coming soon! 

Sherman's Road to the Regional: Part 2

This is part two of a three-part series following one of the lead broadcasters for Cornell Big Red baseball. Make sure to read Part 1 HERE. 

“And it’s a beautiful day for baseball here at Boshamer Stadium at UNC Chapel Hill in North Carolina, at least for the time being…” were the words that got the show started in perfect fashion. Alex introduced the audience to the Cornell At Bat broadcast with the warning that inclement weather may be in our future. Nevertheless, it was finally time for baseball, and we could not have been any more excited. After our pregame show that consisted of a 15 minutes summary of the most important observations that we had to offer to the audience, UNC took the field. Left handed UNC starter Hobbs Johnson dealt a first pitch ball to Cornell second baseman Brenton Peters, and we were off and running. Well, at least in the broadcast booth.

After a seemingly harmless 1-0 deficit through 3 1/2 innings (that could have been worse if our shortstop Marshall Yanzick didn’t make an incredible diving catch in shallow left field to save multiple runs), the wheels started to come off. Cornell starting pitcher Rick Marks got into trouble by surrendering 4 consecutive hits and ultimately allowed four runs in the 4th inning to fall behind 5-0.

We as broadcasters have to try to remain relatively impartial, but at that point we were optimistically searching for a game plan that would help our Big Red overcome a five-run deficit against one of the best teams in the country. That’s where senior centerfielder and team leader Brian Billigen came to the rescue.

After the Big Red ran themselves out of the inning by recording the final out on a play at home plate to end the 5th, Marshall Yanzick led off the 6th inning with an infield single, and Billigen stepped up to the plate 0-2 on the day with two strikeouts. “

Now would be a great time for his first hit,” are the words that Billigen apparently needed to hear from the Cornell broadcast booth. Knowing that he’d get a good pitch in a 2-0 count, he drilled a fastball deep to right center field that cleared the wall for a two-run homer, cutting the deficit to three, and sending Cornell back to the clubhouse with positive thoughts, as the inevitable rain delay commenced right after the home run. But this delay could not have come at a better time; not only had we just homered to get right back into the game, but it gave Alex and I a chance to talk to Rich Booth.

Rich was extremely influential in giving the baseball team and our broadcast team the opportunity to travel to North Carolina in the first place, and we were happy to have the time to thank him and have the pleasure of discussing some Big Red baseball with him. It really hit home with me when Rich talked about how important this baseball team was for the alumni and the entire Cornell community, and we certainly realized how much of an honor it was to play just a small role in their incredible and historic season. But in order for their season to continue, the Big Red had to return from the rain delay as hot as they were going into it.

As the 6th inning continued, it looked like that was what was going to happen, as the Big Red loaded the bases and tacked on another run. But what seemed to be the trend for Cornell throughout the regional games is that they couldn’t quite break the game open and run away with it. They miss an opportunity with the bases loaded, allowed two more runs in the bottom of the 6th to fall behind 7-3, added a run in the 8th to make it a 7-4 game, and brought the tying run up to the plate several times in the ninth against one of the best closers in the nation, Michael Morin. It was hard not to feel the intensity that this game had created, even in our broadcast booth in the second deck. We were certainly confident in our chances to tie the ballgame and keep the game alive.

Unfortunately, it did not work in our favor. But after falling to UNC in a tight 7-4 ballgame, we felt confident going into Saturday against East Carolina. In the few games that Alex and I witnessed from the booth during the 2012 season, this team’s will to win and propensity to come through in the clutch was quite evident. The fight that the Big Red put up in this game against the Tar Heels and the clutch performances they had against both Princeton late in the season and against Dartmouth in the Ivy League Championship Series gave us hope that Saturday’s game would not be our last.

Check out Part 3 coming soon! 

Gimenez's Road to the Regional: Part 1

Jesse Sherman

This is Part one of a three-part series following one of the lead broadcasters for Cornell Big Red baseball.

Having the opportunity to call Cornell Baseball games this past year was truly a dream come true for me.  I got the idea when I visited Cornell for Cornell Days and had no idea just how far the experience would take me, especially not in my first year of putting things together.  To be honest, I had done my homework. I knew Cornell’s baseball team had struggled the last few years, and was the worst team in the Ivy League in 2011.  Because of that, I assumed I’d be broadcasting for the worst team in the Ivy League in 2012, but they surprised the hell out of me, and gave me a gift that not many aspiring broadcasters are able to attain in their first year on the job.  That gift, was a trip to an NCAA Regional.

When Chris Cruz blasted his record breaking 12^thhomerun of the season in the bottom of the 11^th inning of game 3 to win the Ivy League Championship Series, I knew that no matter what, I had to follow the Big Red to their second NCAA Regional in over a hundred years of existence as a program.  History was being made and I knew I wanted to be a part of it and most importantly, I wanted the team to get the coverage they had fought for all year long and deserved so much.  After a month of planning and coordinating, I was getting off the plane at Ithaca/Tompkins airport, back in Ithaca just a week after returning home from the spring semester. 

It was Monday May 28 at 11:45 which meant that ESPN’s College Baseball Regional Selection show was going to start in fifteen minutes.  I had taken a risk flying to Ithaca before we had been placed in a regional.  There was a chance that the Big Red would be traveling to the University of Miami, which is just 15 minutes away from my home, but I had been offered a chance to travel with the team, and I didn’t want to pass it up, even if it meant getting on a plane and flying right back to where I came from.  So as you can imagine, I was pretty anxious to find out where we were headed.  I got a cab to pick up my car at the RPCC parking lot, looked down at my watch and saw that it was already past noon.  I was set to meet the team at Buffalo Wild Wings for the selection show so I jumped in my car and hauled down Buffalo St. Fortunately, I made it before the big announcement.  I remember walking into the restaurant and seeing the whole team huddled in a private room anxiously watching the TV screens and realizing just how amazing this experience must be for all of them.  I took my place next to Brandon Thomas, a friend and our contact in Athletic Communications, and pitching coach, Scott Marsh, to watch the show. 

It was hilarious to watch as each host school popped up on the screen and immediately you could tell whether or not the players wanted to make the trip to that location.  When a Florida or California school went off the board without the Big Red getting their number called, there was a groan of frustration, and when Little Rock, Arkansas went off the board, there was cheering.  We had been sitting there for quite awhile and we all had our predictions.  I thought we were going to Houston and coach Scott Marsh had called UNC Chapel Hill from the beginning. All of a sudden UNC came up on the screen and very quickly it was announced that the Big Red were making the trip to Chapel Hill.  The player’s were happy with this selection, and not at all intimidated at the prospects of having to face the sixth ranked team in the country. I had played baseball myself in Miami, considered playing in college at the D3 level, and knew many players who had either been drafted or gone on to play college baseball.  Of all my teammates, in fact, of all the players who had come through my middle/high school during my seven years there, I was the first to make it to an NCAA Regional, and if it was humanly possible, I felt just as excited as the guys in uniform. 

The next few days were a whirlwind of excitement.  Tuesday was media day which brought many local media groups to Hoy Field to interview the Big Red players.  Naturally, as a member of the media, I was in attendance and got to hear what guys like Rick Marks and Kellen Urbon were saying about the upcoming regional. The consensus among the team was that after playing again each other for over a month, they were ready to face an actual opponent, even if that meant going head-to-head with the Tar Heels.  I was overwhelmed by the sense of confidence the team had and that confidence would remain throughout the next few days.  They may not have convinced the rest of the country, but they had me convinced that they could beat anyone. 

The next day I got to travel on my first privately chartered team jet, which is just as cool as it sounds.  We were flying on a 737 with a full crew and only about a third of the plane filled.  It was one of the most relaxed flight I’ve ever been on. I spread myself out and started putting together my notes for the upcoming games.  Before we took off, Brian Billigen, the senior leader on the team played the role of stewardess, walking up and down the aisle handing out pretzels.  It was a hilarious sight, the Big Red Center Fielder and eventual Arizona Diamondback signee handing out pretzels to his coaches, teammates, and a random freshman broadcaster.   When we arrived at the hotel, I met up with my color guy Jesse Sherman, and the intense preparation began.

For two days, Jesse and I looked through every piece of information we could get our hands on.  I looked through all of my files on the team, wrote notes on each player based on interviews I had listened to, crunched numbers, looked at splits, and everything in between.  I wanted to know the UNC Tar Heels better than anyone else so I even called a few contacts who had seen Tar Heel players in the Cape Cod summer league to get more perspective.   Between Jesse, Brandon, and I, we had talked about every possible scenario that could occur and were trying to play head coach and figure out how the pitchers would be used.  I think I had closer Kellen Urbon starting a game in four different scenarios, which goes to show you how crazy we got with our analysis of the team. The preparation was grueling. It felt like a week had gone by and it had only been a day and a half, but when you're waiting for the biggest game of your life in the booth, time seems to slow down.

It was incredibly special to stay with the team in the team hotel, you get to have certain priceless interactions with players in the elevator or riding to the stadium on the team bus that allows you an entrance into their minds and thought process.  That coupled with all of our preparation, left me armed with much to talk about on the air the next day.

Check out Part 2 next week! 

Sherman's Road to the Regional: Part 1

Jesse Sherman

This is Part one of a three-part series following one of the lead broadcasters for Cornell Big Red baseball.

Hopping aboard my 12:55 PM flight from New York JFK en route to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, I had no idea what to expect. During the Spring semester, I had the pleasure of broadcasting a few home games for the Cornell Big Red baseball team on our home turf at Hoy Filed. I even got to be in the press box when right fielder Chris Cruz launched a walk-off home run in the 11th inning to clinch the Ivy League Championship Series for the Red, sending us to the NCAA regionals. But I felt like I was entering a new world while walking onto that flight.

Just a few days prior, I was sitting at home on Long Island, New York watching the selection show that revealed that the Cornell Big Red, making its first NCAA appearance since 1977, would be traveling to the Chapel Hill regional to face off against the nation’s sixth ranked team, the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At that moment, it hit me: not only was our baseball team about to have the opportunity of a lifetime to showcase their skills at a world-class facility in North Carolina, but so did the Cornell At Bat broadcast team that I was so lucky to be a member of. The plans were finalized, and upon arriving at the hotel in Raleigh North Carolina, the awe factor had to be set aside and it was time to get down to business.


Having two days to prepare for the Big Red’s showdown with the Tar Heels, my colleague Alex Gimenez and I poured over an immense amount of statistics, interviews, and matchup previews that required hours of focus to comprehend and consolidate into an understandable story for the broadcast. Despite the amount of time it may take to review all of the materials available to us, it is necessary to know as much information about the teams and players as possible because that is the only way to deliver an effective and interesting broadcast for our listeners. Perhaps what helped us most, however, was the hour and a half batting and fielding practice that the Big Red took at North Carolina’s Boshamer Stadium just one day before the big game.

After traveling on the bus with the team and watching them interact in the hotel and on the field, it was quite clear that this team epitomized a ball club with top-notch camaraderie. There was no fear in the eyes of anyone on this team, which, despite having to face one of the country’s top teams, had tied a school record with 31 wins and was confident about its chances in the regional.

The first minute of batting practice consisted of the wide-eyed Cornell team and staff admiring the impressive facilities of Boshamer Stadium, but from there it was business as usual. Batting practice and fielding practice commenced and it was clear that the team knew that they belonged here, as player after player launched balls into the gaps and into the trees that sat beyond the outfield walls of the beautiful ballpark.

Meanwhile, I, along with the rest of the Cornell athletic staff, was taken on a tour of the stadium that got us accustomed to our surroundings for the weekend. The tour included a visit the UNC baseball Hall of Fame, a stroll through the clubhouses, batting cages, weight rooms, and, most importantly for our purposes, a view from the press-box and radio booths that we would have access to throughout the weekend.

Batting practice ended and we knew that the next time we would return to the stadium would be the next day just hours before it was time for the players to take the field and for us to broadcast live from the NCAA regional. In the mean time, we went back to the hotel to finish up our preparation and to get ready for a team dinner that was only fitting for this Cornell team. Everyone with the team for the weekend, including players, parents, coaches, staff, and alumni, gathered and enjoyed a huge Italian family-style dinner, which I found to be appropriate style for this group of people that embraced each other as family. We were in it together, and the team knew that they would not be in the position they were in without all of the people around them picking each other up along the way.

The Friday afternoon game was drawing near, and after what felt like the longest two days of waiting for game time, the scheduled start time (to the delight of most everyone) was moved to earlier in the afternoon because of expected rain storms later in the day. Taking a seat behind the microphone in the booth that gave us a bird’s eye view of the game right behind home plate in the second deck, an adrenaline rush kicked in for the Cornell At Bat broadcast team.

Friday June 1st, 2012, 2:45 PM: it was time to go on-air.

Check out Part 2 of this adventure next week! 

Joe Paterno: A Legacy Tarnished

(Editor: A reminder of the disclaimer on the bottom of this site: "The views expressed by the writers on this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Cornell ILR Sports Management Club")

It should come as no surprise that the sex abuse scandal at Penn State University is dominating the national spotlight. This story is stealing headlines, in part, because this unfathomable act of pure evil has seemingly infiltrated something our nation once viewed as the ultimate example of integrity and innocence--sports. While a sports team and its coaches are the focus, this crisis presents a moral dilemma that challenges even the most casual sports fan. These events have also forced us to re-evaluate the standards of responsibility that our society should expect from its citizens and have shattered the notion that so long as an individual adheres to a strict interpretation of the law, he should be free of guilt. We are now confronted with the reality that adherence to the bear minimum of the law may not be enough to fully satisfy one’s civic duty. While failing to act beyond the reach of the law may not be an act punishable in a court of law, this case has amply demonstrated that an individual may still be held accountable in the court of public opinion. The speed at which Joe Paterno lost his once untouchable position as head coach of Penn State’s Football Team is a testament to this fact.

*Joe Paterno’s role in the Jerry Sandusky episode reaches back to a reported incident that took place in 2002. At that time, Sandusky was employed as Defensive Coordinator of the Penn State men’s football team under Head Coach, Joe Paterno. On March 1, 2002, a graduate student, Mike McQueary, entered the team’s locker room and witnessed Sandusky raping a boy who, at the time, McQueary estimated to be 10 years old. The next day, a distraught McQueary visited Paterno at his home and divulged what he had seen. Paterno then relayed this shocking information to his superior, Athletic Director, Tim Curley. Later in the month, Curley held a meeting with McQueary and the University's Senior Vice President for Finance and Business, Gary Schultz, to question McQueary about what he had witnessed. The meeting concluded with Schultz and Curley stating that they would investigate the events further and take appropriate action. On March 27, 2002, Curley called McQueary to advise him that Sandusky’s locker room keys had been confiscated and that the incident has been reported to The Second Mile, the foster home Sandusky had founded. McQueary was neither questioned by University police nor did any of her group inside or outside of the University discuss the matter with him further until McQueary testified in a December 2010 grand jury hearing. Paterno was had no other involvement in the case until he was called to testify before the grand jury in March of 2011.*

It is clear from this series of events that Paterno’s participation was limited to reporting to his superior, Tim Curley, the incident that was communicated to him by McQueary. While facts remain to be revealed, it appears that Paterno took no additional steps to insure that Penn State was taking appropriate action to address this situation. Between this incident and the spring of 2008 when another victim’s mother reported Sandusky, nothing more was done to prevent Sandusky (pictured left) from continuing his nefarious actions. Worst of all, Sandusky

continued to have access to the Penn State campus and the team’s facilities and, in fact, was even permitted to continue to maintain an office there. Two days after Sandusky was arrested on November 5, 2011, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Linda Kelly, said Paterno would not be a target of the investigation into how the University handled the accusations of child abuse. Although, at least for now, Paterno has avoided legal prosecution, it is clear that society is not ready to completely relieve him of responsibility for these events.

On November 9, 2011, news outlets around the country went viral with reports that Joe Paterno would be fired from his position as head coach of Penn State’s Football Team. Paterno is the longest reining head coach in NCAA Football and has been a fixture at Penn State for more than six decades. His 409 victories rank higher than any other coach in NCAA Football. “JoePa” has done it all, winning two national championships and twenty-four bowl games. He remains one of the most iconic sports figure for not only his ability on the field, but also for all that he contributed to Penn State University over the years. Ultimately, however, his ousting is not due to something he did, but rather something he did not do. It is this sin of omission that has Paterno feeling such great remorse and is what prompts discussion about his poor handling of these tragic events.

It is plain for all to see that by simply following the law and reporting the incident to his superior, Paterno was not doing all that he morally should have. While we hope that a governing system of law reflects all that society holds morally dear to it, Paterno’s actions suggest otherwise. By only reporting Sandusky’s activities to his chain of command, Paterno was released of all legal liability. Nevertheless, it is apparent that by simply communicating Sandusky’s alleged crimes, Paterno had not done enough to completely take the many victims in this case out of harms way. Thus, this situation presents a conflict between morality and law, where the law did not prescribe a morally correct standard for holding those involved in these horrible offenses responsible. Paterno himself admitted that he needed to act beyond merely communicating what McQueary had observed. “It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more," Paterno stated.

For now, Paterno has avoided any legal prosecution, although he could still be charged with perjury, obstruction of justice, violating the state's Child Protective Services law and even be subject to possible civil suits from the victims’ families. Joe Paterno has always been revered as a college football head coach who did the right thing. Unlike many other coaches, his record of NCAA violations remains spotless and he always ensured that his players graduated at high rates. Although Paterno has always been characterized by laudable qualities like charity and public good, this tragedy, in which Paterno clearly failed to meet his moral duty, will always remain as an indelible stain on an otherwise sterling reputation.

*Please see the Grand Jury Report for a complete account of the events that transpired