Coach Bolding will ride off into the sunset after 35 years of coaching Longwood baseball.

Longwood’s baseball season and the Buddy Bolding era officially came to a close today with a 8-6 loss to the number one seeded Campbell Camels in the Big South semifinals today. The Lancers end the year with a 26-28 record and a 14-14 mark in their first year of Big South Conference play. The tournament run and season in general was quite an accomplishment for long time coach Buddy Bolding and the Lancers after the Big South preseason poll overwhelmingly predicted LU to finish last in the conference.

Campbell jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the second inning today, but the Lancers continued to battle back. Longwood cut the lead to one in the 5th inning, but the Camels were able to get a little insurance with a three run seventh inning that sealed the deal.

Matt Dickason lead the team at the plate with a hit and two RBI, while Connor Gall added two hits and two runs. Joe Manion steadied the ship after  a rough start for Tyler Wislocki. Manion went four and one-third innings and only gave up one hit and two runs.

Campbell now moves on to the Big South championship where they will play either Coastal Carolina or host Liberty on Saturday.

Buddy Bolding will now ride off into the sunset after 35 years at the helm for the Lancers. His successor has not been named but Bolding has let it be known that he would like to see current pitching coach and Lancer alum Brian McCullough take over the program. Best of luck to coach Bolding and a big thank you for everything he has done for the program and the university!

A familiar scene on the field that dons his name.

Buddy Bolding is gearing up for his last year at the the helm of Longwood baseball. The legendary coach has been the only coach the Lancers have ever had and his incredible career will come to a close this summer.

A last for Bolding will actually be a first as Longwood begins their first season in the Big South, a conference dominated by Coastal Carolina and with an emerging power in Liberty. Longwood was picked to finish last in the conference, but I have no doubt that Longwood will outperform expectations.

Longwood’s season will kick off the season against MAAC member Saint Peter’s. The Peacocks went 20-34 a year ago and have become a familiar opponent in Farmville over the years, as northern teams flee south in hopes of warmer temperatures.

The Lancers come back with a stable core of veterans and an exciting group of freshman. Leading the veteran group is first baseman Justin Lacy, who was picked in many publications as an all-Big South performer. Lacy hit .376 a year ago including 6 home runs and 32 RBI. Longwood also brings back the talented bats of catch Scott Burkett (.357, 7 HR, 35 RBI) and outfielder Brandon Delk (.303, 3 HR, 20 RBI). Longwood will likeley start three freshmen in their line up in outfielders Colton Konvicka and Kyri Washington, as well as designated hitter Travis Burnette

On the hill, Kyler Morgan will lead the way. The Lancers ace went 6-6 a year ago with a 3.87 ERA and 43 strikeouts. Behind Morgan will be freshman Blake Ream and sophomore Brandon Vick who went 6-2 with a 4.00 ERA a year ago. Aaron Myers will lead Longwood out of the pen. Last year, Myers lead Longwood in appearances (22) and posted a 3.38 ERA and averaging 9.53 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Patience has to be the theme for this year’s Longwood baseball team. Buddy Bolding’s squad entered the year with just two seniors, three juniors, seven sophomores, and eight freshman. It has certainly been a season of ups and downs that has been full of growing pains throughout. The Lancers got their overall record, 17-16, back above .500 on Sunday by defeating North Carolina Central (10-23) on the road. After splitting with the Eagles on Saturday the Lancers now have an overall road record of 5-5 on the year.

The Lancers have had no problem mustering up offense this year. Robbie Newman is batting .375 with nine home runs and 34 RBI. Justin Lacy is batting over .400 (.417) and Scott Burkett is batting over .352, the two have combined for 47 RBI. Pitching has been the weak point for the Lancers, although starters Brandon Vick (4-1), Kyler Morgan (4-3), and Matt Gwaltney have respectable ERAs of 3.28, 3.63, and 3.83 respectively. The youthful bullpen has been the focal point of the problems, but hopefully the experience that these young relievers are getting will pay off over time.

Longwood can make statement this week and add to the win column as they take on future Big South rival VMI (11-20) on Wednesday in Lexington. The squad will then have nearly a week off before their next game, which will be against VCU on April 17 in Farmville.