Kelsey Reflects on 2010 Season

By: Mike Hardill

This week, we sit down with Kyle Kelsey, the Badgers sophomore pitcher who took on a bigger role with the team this past season.

An excited Kelsey (8.2 IP, 1-0, 5.20 ERA, 6 K's) wastes no time sharing his thoughts on the OUA Championship campaign. 

"For me, this is the best program I have been apart of," remarks Kyle. "One of the reasons I came to Brock was to be on a winning baseball team and hopefully win a championship before I graduated. To be able to accomplish that in only my second year here makes me honored and want to work even harder this off-season to get that feeling back next year. After you practice and play every day for 8 weeks, you really get close with the guys. Being able to celebrate in a huddle at the end with the trophy in the air was a feeling that I'm sure we all want again next year."

Kyle makes it clear that he is committed to another winning season in 2011. 

"My goal in the off-season is to work hard and develop my pitches so that I can become a better and more consistent pitcher. I also will be looking to throw more innings over the summer for more experience. I think everyone's goal next year is similar. Get back to Nationals where we have unfinished business and win that National title. My personal goal is to work hard, so that I can be at my best for the team when we get there."

Kelsey knows for the team to be successful in 2011, he's going to have to play a leadership role on the pitching staff and build on his first two seasons with the Badgers. 

"Coming in this year was different from last. This year I knew what to expect and how things worked, I felt more mentally prepared this year and was closer with the team and more specifically the pitching staff. I knew from last year how hard it was for a first year guy to pitch over older guys, so I just tried to be there for guys like Ayles and DiMichele, if they had any questions or needed advice I tried to be there. Both of them impressed me a lot and will have promising careers at Brock"

In addition to his own improvement, Kyle points out one of his team mates in particular that also had a successful 2010 season.

"Cam Graham really broke out this year in both his play and leadership, he worked hard in the off season and it really showed on the field. Also he was a guy on the team that everyone respected because of his leadership behind the dish, his work ethic during practice and his voice in the locker room."

Kyle was one of many Badgers that sported aggressive facial hair during the playoffs. Kelsey's was unique compared to his other Badgers team mates though, definitely earning points for creativity. Kyle explains further. 

"My playoff beard was obviously the best on the team" jokes Kyle. I called it 'Zortox 2.0' it gave me strength and power and made up for Kyle Porter's weak painted-on beard. It also had the power to summon 500 foot home runs that would clear scoreboards when I so wished to summon them. I think Forte rubbed it for luck before his first at bat in the final game."

Stay tuned for more articles, as we take a deeper look into the playoff beard phenomenon in this month of Movember.