The CWU baseball season is underway and the Wildcats have already received Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) awards. Sophomore first baseman and catcher Andrew Sharp started the season off strong with a very quick GNAC player of the week being added to his resume. A month into the season CWU is 9-9 following their first home stretch of the season where they swept Saint Martin’s University to open conference play.
Sharp on the season is hitting at an average of .365 in 14 games played. He has three doubles to his name, 14 runs batted in and was able to show off some power, launching a home run in his first game in front of the CWU fans. Showing why he was deserving of the award he earned early in the season.
With the home opener behind us Sharp shared his feelings on playing in front of the Wildcat crowd for the first time and what it means to take the field with his teammates. “I was so excited for the home opener,” Sharp said. “I was excited for the team to show what we are all about. We are more than teammates, we’re brothers and we are ready to go to war this season and prove not only to the GNAC but to all of DII what the CWU Wildcats are all about.”
Sharp has high expectations for his team this season saying that his eyes set on winning championships for the Wildcats. He vowed to put his best foot forward every day and do whatever it takes to help the team. With the first home stand of the season ending in a four-game sweep CWU could be trending in the right direction for the goals Sharp has set.
It was not an easy journey for Sharp to get to CWU as he battled plenty of adversity heading into this season. “I went through a lot before CWU,” Sharp said. “This is my fourth school in four years, and I was recovering from an injury last season and had no schools interested but I emailed Coach Storey and he invited me for a visit. I felt a connection instantly and I really felt like I fit in here.”
Head baseball coach Desi Story shared that he believes Sharp brings a lot of hard work to this Wildcat team. Sharp has confirmed to Coach Story that with hard work and the willingness to tweak your game a little, it will be able to bring growth which will lead to success.
Storey raved about all the positives that Sharp can bring to a clubhouse highlighting the mental work ethic and the impact he has on his teammates “Physically he is very athletic, but also on the mental side, he goes at full speed and never gives in,” Storey said. “He is a great teammate, super supportive and positive, and he is becoming an integral part of our offense.”
CWU baseball will be on the road for the next two series where they play Western Oregon University first then will travel east to take on Montana State Billings University. Following those two series the Wildcats will be back home for a homestand vs #19 ranked Northwest Nazarene University. The first two of four games will be played on Mar. 29 at CWU’s baseball field off of 18th street so come out and support your Cats as they take on the Nighthawks.
