Baseball: The Truth Teller
March 17, 2011 12:15 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - Grant Buckner has a cool, calm confidence about him that forces those within his vicinity to not only take him seriously, but also to believe everything he says.
When the West Virginia redshirt-senior says he is excited for his final season with the Mountaineer baseball team, you believe him. When the Elkview native says nothing makes him more proud than to represent his home state, you believe him. When the preseason all-BIG EAST honoree says he was nervous to assume the shortstop position left vacant by All-American Jedd Gyorko, you believe him – but you also know his skill level and talent will more than compensate for his qualms.
Coach Greg Van Zant believed in him. After a strong fall season, he moved the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Buckner from third to shortstop, solidifying the Mountaineers’ strong infield.
“I didn’t come into the season expecting to play shortstop,” Buckner explained. “I thought I would continue to play third base. It just turned out that short was where I was needed the most.”
As a fifth-year senior, Buckner knew that more responsibility would be placed on his shoulders. He also knew someone would have to assume Gyorko’s position – he just wasn’t sure he was the right fit. Yet, after four years and four position moves, the transition proved smooth.
“I’ve never settled at one position,” he said. “This past fall, I played almost every game at shortstop, and I did OK, so that experience has helped me with the adjustment through the first part of this season. So far, I like playing there.”
Buckner and Gyorko stood side-by-side on the field and in the statistical records last season. Buckner ranked second on the team, behind leader Gyorko, with a .363 batting average, tallying 73 hits in 201 at bats with 50 RBIs, eight home runs and 17 doubles.
“Offensively, the way we hit, I knew there was going to be a lot of production that needed replaced,” Buckner said of Gyorko’s departure. “Fortunately, from a lineup standpoint, we have a lot of veteran guys back.”
That experience has helped the Mountaineers build a 10-7 start. By Buckner’s standards, the season could not have opened better, as WVU went 2-1 at the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge, picking up a 5-0 win over Iowa in the season-opener and a close 5-4 victory against Illinois.
“We could have easily gone 3-0 at the challenge,” Buckner reflected. “I think after that weekend, we may have been riding on cloud nine too much, because we went 0-3 the next weekend. That brought us back down to earth.”
Nearing the end of a 14-game home stand, the Mountaineers are set to open BIG EAST play at USF on March 25. Buckner says that while he likes what he’s seen from the team’s young bullpen so far, a few kinks still need to be worked out before the conference season.
“We need to get the pitching staff set and establish a rotation,” the multidisciplinary studies major said. “We need to find someone in our bullpen that’s going to be able to step-in and finish the games for us.”
Buckner says that feat would be easier if the Mountaineers still had the service of Chris Enourato. The program’s all-time career saves leader, and Buckner’s roommate over the years, Enourato now serves as the team’s student assistant – and is itching to get back on the mound.
“It’s weird not playing with him now,” Buckner laughed. “For four years, we just gave the ball to him at the end of a game. I know we could have used him in a few games already this season.
“It’s killing him. He’s still here, but we can’t give him the ball! It’s definitely weird, but I’m confident we’ll find someone else to step-up and win some games.”
Buckner knows he no longer can dwell on the missing Mountaineers, and that it is his time to shine as a leader. Honored by his preseason BIG EAST selection, he says his greatest wish is to guide WVU through a vigorous conference schedule and toward a BIG EAST title, the program’s first since 1996.
“You’re judged by championships, and if I could win the BIG EAST for West Virginia after such a long absence, it we be an historical ending (to his career),” he said.
Grateful to have played for his state’s flagship school, Buckner says the past five years have been about fulfilling his childhood wishes.
“Growing up, I was a big fan of WVU, just like every other kid in the state,” he summarized. “To be able to start for the baseball team for several years, and to eventually graduate from here, is a dream come true.”
There is no doubt that he means every word.
When the West Virginia redshirt-senior says he is excited for his final season with the Mountaineer baseball team, you believe him. When the Elkview native says nothing makes him more proud than to represent his home state, you believe him. When the preseason all-BIG EAST honoree says he was nervous to assume the shortstop position left vacant by All-American Jedd Gyorko, you believe him – but you also know his skill level and talent will more than compensate for his qualms.
Coach Greg Van Zant believed in him. After a strong fall season, he moved the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Buckner from third to shortstop, solidifying the Mountaineers’ strong infield.
“I didn’t come into the season expecting to play shortstop,” Buckner explained. “I thought I would continue to play third base. It just turned out that short was where I was needed the most.”
As a fifth-year senior, Buckner knew that more responsibility would be placed on his shoulders. He also knew someone would have to assume Gyorko’s position – he just wasn’t sure he was the right fit. Yet, after four years and four position moves, the transition proved smooth.
“I’ve never settled at one position,” he said. “This past fall, I played almost every game at shortstop, and I did OK, so that experience has helped me with the adjustment through the first part of this season. So far, I like playing there.”
Buckner and Gyorko stood side-by-side on the field and in the statistical records last season. Buckner ranked second on the team, behind leader Gyorko, with a .363 batting average, tallying 73 hits in 201 at bats with 50 RBIs, eight home runs and 17 doubles.
“Offensively, the way we hit, I knew there was going to be a lot of production that needed replaced,” Buckner said of Gyorko’s departure. “Fortunately, from a lineup standpoint, we have a lot of veteran guys back.”
That experience has helped the Mountaineers build a 10-7 start. By Buckner’s standards, the season could not have opened better, as WVU went 2-1 at the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge, picking up a 5-0 win over Iowa in the season-opener and a close 5-4 victory against Illinois.
“We could have easily gone 3-0 at the challenge,” Buckner reflected. “I think after that weekend, we may have been riding on cloud nine too much, because we went 0-3 the next weekend. That brought us back down to earth.”
Nearing the end of a 14-game home stand, the Mountaineers are set to open BIG EAST play at USF on March 25. Buckner says that while he likes what he’s seen from the team’s young bullpen so far, a few kinks still need to be worked out before the conference season.
“We need to get the pitching staff set and establish a rotation,” the multidisciplinary studies major said. “We need to find someone in our bullpen that’s going to be able to step-in and finish the games for us.”
Buckner says that feat would be easier if the Mountaineers still had the service of Chris Enourato. The program’s all-time career saves leader, and Buckner’s roommate over the years, Enourato now serves as the team’s student assistant – and is itching to get back on the mound.
“It’s weird not playing with him now,” Buckner laughed. “For four years, we just gave the ball to him at the end of a game. I know we could have used him in a few games already this season.
“It’s killing him. He’s still here, but we can’t give him the ball! It’s definitely weird, but I’m confident we’ll find someone else to step-up and win some games.”
Buckner knows he no longer can dwell on the missing Mountaineers, and that it is his time to shine as a leader. Honored by his preseason BIG EAST selection, he says his greatest wish is to guide WVU through a vigorous conference schedule and toward a BIG EAST title, the program’s first since 1996.
“You’re judged by championships, and if I could win the BIG EAST for West Virginia after such a long absence, it we be an historical ending (to his career),” he said.
Grateful to have played for his state’s flagship school, Buckner says the past five years have been about fulfilling his childhood wishes.
“Growing up, I was a big fan of WVU, just like every other kid in the state,” he summarized. “To be able to start for the baseball team for several years, and to eventually graduate from here, is a dream come true.”
There is no doubt that he means every word.
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