Baseball finish at No. 2, Calhoun drafted by Cards

    While other students packed their bags and headed home after finals  last year, the members of the Thoroughbreds baseball program prolonged their stay in Murray to complete their 2009 season.
    Although Murray State’s campaign ended in a 9-3 loss to Jacksonville State in the Ohio Valley Conference semifinal round, the team made great strides.
    “I thought we had a good year,” Head Coach Rob McDonald said. “We had a great group of guys that competed well and achieved things we haven’t for a long time … Of course we would’ve liked to win the tournament but a second place finish is a good testament to our guys and their efforts.”
    The fact that the ‘Breds were picked in the OVC preseason poll to finish in the No. 7 spot proved that with a foundation of great leadership, skilled athletes and knowledgeable coaches anything is possible, even having a student-athlete drafted by a Major League team.
    Left-handed pitcher and Murray State graduate Daniel Calhoun was selected in the 29th round of the First-Year Player Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals ball club. He is now playing in their farm system for the New York-Penn League Batavia Muckdogs.
    “(Playing Minor League ball) is a lot of fun,” Calhoun said. “It’s different from playing in college. You don’t have to prove to anyone that you belong here. You’re playing for yourself, but there’s still that definite team atmosphere.”
    Calhoun, who was named an All-American among other honors, tallied a season record of 11-3, striking out 85 batters while walking six in his 97 innings at the mound. Pitching 11 complete games, he set the Murray State record for complete games pitched in a single season.
    “I never imagined that I would be an All-American,” Calhoun said. “I have to thank the coaches and the offense for being there too. If they don’t hit the ball and score runs, then I can’t win games. They did it all. I couldn’t do it without them. Being an All-American is what you work for, there’s nothing more I could ask for.”
    Graduating seven student-athletes, the ‘Breds will start their 2010 campaign losing some great talent, but the team returns with the leadership and experience of 18 upperclassmen, including junior Elliot Frey and seniors Wes Cunningham, Kyle Tiernan and Chris Craycraft, who led the El Dorado Broncos to the National Baseball Conference World Series victory this week.
    “(The team) worked very hard last season,” McDonald said. “They were an extremely competitive team. I’m hoping last year’s team laid the groundwork for more improvement this year.”
    Elizabeth Johnson can be reached at elizabetha.johnson@murraystate.edu.