MoWest baseball team bands together after major offseason overhaul

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Missouri Western State University's Griffons Baseball team is seven games into its season so far. After a home series win, the team is working to continue to come together.

Offense has been the engine for the team so far this season, as the Griffons are scoring over eight runs per game.

"Being able to play small ball while also playing the long balls is important, and we've got guys in the lineup who can do both, and I think we're just really balanced," Head Coach Michael Keeran said. "Anytime you can be balanced and tough to kill is what you want offensively."

The program is almost all-new after a major offseason overhaul, with a new coach and almost 30 new players; however, the newness of the team isn't stopping them from "getting it done."

"We kind of call ourselves the 'Island of Misfit Toys.' We've got a lot of guys with different personalities, but really, the cohesion is really good," redshirt senior shortstop Ben Waliczek said.

Waliczek comes to MoWest after previous stops in the Junior College ranks and with Indiana State University.

"The chemistry is great. I've been on three teams in my college career, and this is easily the best chemistry we've had," said Waliczek.

After being on three teams, Waliczek had nothing but high praise for the new Head Coach.

"If you're a player that gets a chance to be recruited by Keeran, I'd say to take the chance," said Waliczek. "He's a really tough coach to play for, but he's going to win and make you a lot better (of a) player."

As the team prepares for the upcoming weekend series against St. Cloud State University, Keeran stayed humble toward fans who may be interested in watching.

"Are we good yet? I don't know. Are we bad? I don't know. But, we're entertaining," said Keeran. "We play a very entertaining brand of baseball, and I mean, we've played a lot of close ball games already, and we've got a lot of guys that can do something pretty cool things."

Keeran urged fans who are interested in being entertained to come out and watch the team.

The home series against St. Cloud State will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 and at noon on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Griffon Baseball Field.