July 23, 2011
So. Connecticut takes next step
by Ed Flaherty/
Chris Zbin (Colchester, Conn.) went 10-2 with a 1.25 ERA to lead Southern Connecticut to the Div. 2 College World Series. (photo: Southern Connecticut State)
Southern Connecticut State’s 2010 season ended with an opponent celebrating on the Owls’ home field in the NCAA Division 2 tournament’s East Regional championship.
SCSU had everything in place for a trip to the Division 2 College World Series last year as Franklin Pierce needed to defeat the Owls twice to advance, but that nightmare scenario is exactly what took place at Southern Connecticut’s home stadium, The Ballpark at SCSU.
The pain from those losses would linger throughout the offseason for Southern Connecticut, providing motivation for the 2011 Owls.
Southern Connecticut turned in an outstanding season that resulted in an NCAA East Regional title of its own and a trip to the College World Series for the second time in school history. The Owls were 45-9-1 in 2011, setting a school record for victories.
“It definitely was our goal from the start of the season,” SCSU head coach Tim Shea said of reaching the College World Series. “After the 2010 regional, it was motivation for us. What was special was how we did it. We won three games in 27 hours. It was pretty special.”
Southern Connecticut senior pitcher Chris Zbin (Colchester, Conn.) said the Owls’ preparations for 2011 began in the moments following their loss in the 2010 East Regional.
“When we lost last year in the final two games against Franklin Pierce, it was heartbreaking but it kind of motivated us to get back to that position and get farther,” said Zbin, who was 10-2 with a 1.25 ERA in 2011 and has a school record 260 strikeouts in his SCSU career.
Southern Connecticut’s other ace, Kevin Pettine (Somerset, Mass.), agreed.
“After the loss on our home field, it kind of stuck in our minds preparing for this year,” said Pettine, who went 10-1 with a 2.00 ERA.
Southern Connecticut’s motivation and determination were evident from the start of the 2011 season. Starting with a win over Felician College on Feb. 2, the Owls reeled off 22 consecutive victories while playing in North Carolina, New Jersey and Florida before working their way back to New England.
Prior to Southern Connecticut’s first loss of the season April 2, the Owls were the last undefeated team at any NCAA level in 2011.
“The guys were very motivated,” Shea said. “They believed in themselves. They worked extremely hard in the offseason and that says a lot about who they are.”
SCSU stumbled a bit in the middle of the season and was knocked out of the Northeast-10 tournament in three games, but received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament’s East Regional.
After opening the East Regional with two wins, a loss to Adelphi sent the Owls into the elimination bracket, where Southern Connecticut knocked out Franklin Pierce before topping Adelphi twice to earn a trip to the College World Series.
“We were led by some seniors that had some experience from last year playing in the regionals, and they got better,” Shea said. “It’s like a family here, learning from our failures and the kids buying into the system. Top to bottom, everyone on our staff contributed.”
Much like the East Regional, Southern Connecticut didn’t make things easy on itself in the College World Series.
The Owls fell in their opener, 13-0 against West Florida, but rallied for victories against Grand Valley State (8-6) and Sonoma State (6-4) to reach the Final Four.
“We knew after the first loss in the World Series we wanted to show we could play,” Pettine said.
“This whole year we were a comeback team,” Zbin said. “It was exciting but also kind of nerve-wracking.”
Southern Connecticut’s season was halted in the Final Four, however, with a 7-5 loss against Sonoma State.
“It was a great season,” Shea said. “We were built around our pitching staff, and they didn’t let us down. Our pitching staff was excellent when we needed them all year long.”
“It was an exciting season,” Zbin said. “We all worked hard and it was almost like a dream come true because it was a dream since our freshman season.”
Zbin, a junior, and Pettine, a senior, were the marquee names on the Southern Connecticut staff, but they were hardly alone in making the Owls a dominant pitching staff.
SCSU had a team ERA of 2.12 in 2011, which was third nationally in Div. 2. Zbin and Pettine both had double-digit win totals, while Steve Simon (Middlefield, Conn.) was 7-1 with a 2.50 ERA and Steve Landell (Higganum, Conn.) was 6-2 with a 2.55 ERA. Mike Johnston (Thomaston, Conn.) had a school-record and nation-leading 17 saves and a 1.21 ERA for the Owls.
For Shea, SCSU’s trip to the College World Series had extra meaning.
The West Haven, Conn., native was a standout at Southern Connecticut, graduating in 1987. Shea served as an assistant coach for Southern Connecticut for 11 years before taking over as head coach in 2002.
“Southern Connecticut has been in my blood since I was 18 years old,” he said. “I’ve seen the university and all the athletic programs grow.”
Southern Connecticut added another Shea generation in 2011 when T.J. Shea, Tim’s son, joined the program as a freshman.
T.J. Shea hit .241 with two home runs and 27 RBI for the Owls in 2011.
“When he’s going well it’s great, and when he struggles it’s tough,”
Tim Shea said of coaching his son. “As his dad, it was great to see him contribute and succeed.”
In addition to the College World Series trip, Tim Shea also reached a coaching milestone in 2011, recording his 300th career victory.
“It’s nice. It’s just a testament to the guys and the assistant coaches throughout the years,” he said. “You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.”
Among the seniors leaving the Southern Connecticut program are Pettine and Johnson, along with the Owls’ leading hitter in 2011, Kyle Rosadino (Berwyn, Pa.), who hit .346 with 39 RBI.
Despite those losses, Tim Shea believes the Owls have the ability to match the success of 2011 and go beyond
“We feel we have one of the best teams,” he said. “Our goal is to win a national championship.”
This article originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of New England Baseball Journal.
Ed Flaherty can be reached at feedback@baseballjournal.com
