The Northern Michigan University club baseball was awarded the Organization of the Year award Thursday, April 18 at the Leadership Recognition Banquet.
Senior captain Brandon Frazho received the award along with sophomores Drew Baden and Josh Schenning on the behalf of the team.
“The club baseball team at Northern Michigan University was formed to create a competitive level of play for those students interested in playing baseball at the next level,” Frazho said. “We have successfully put together enough talent to be accepted into the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) league in order to compete for a national club baseball championship.”
The ’Cats club baseball team now has been recognized nationally and has been building sponsorships since 2012. They are currently running a 20-man active roster. The ’Cats are currently in fourth place in the NCBA Division II Sector V-East with a 4-6 record in their conference.
“Our first goal was met early when we were accepted into the NCBA,” Frazho said. “We were a nationally sponsored, recognized and certified club baseball team. Not only that, but we also got our first couple wins right away and carried that momentum throughout the entire season.”
Frazho, who applied for the team to have club status in the NCBA, has also contributed to the team by supplying with team equipment such as bats, helmets, jerseys, warm-up outfits and more. Frazho said he appreciates the award for him and his teammates and appreciates the team’s gratitude towards him for being a leader.
“I am very proud to think of the endless possibilities for next year already,” Frazho said. “We have come so far in a year, and this team has become a strong force on campus and an organization that will not go away in the nearby future.”
The team has overcome many obstacles to make this season successful, including injuries, lack of substitutions, financial issues, and transportation issues and of course weather complications.
Throughout the year Frazho and the team made it possible for the ’Cats club team to travel down to Plant City, Florida for the NCBA Spring Training 2013. In which, the ’Cats in week two defeated Michigan State 6-2.
Frazho said the team is well established and has great chemistry.
“I am extremely proud to say that we were able to make enormous progress in just one year, without any financial backing from the University,” Frazho said. “Members of the team found part-time jobs to afford membership, all while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher for eligibility. If nothing else, we managed to help each other succeed inside and outside the classroom and therefore completed the toughest series of challenges yet… together and as a team.”
The ’Cats look to face Michigan Tech this upcoming week and has a potential chance to be in the NCBA Division II playoffs. Frazho said he hopes the best for the organization and hope it prevails in the future.
Frazho along with other seniors will be graduating and retiring from the team after this season.
“We went from a very underrepresented and underrated team to something real and magical,” Frazho said. “Club sports may not always be given a lot of credit or praise, but we are honored to even think about being considered for such a prestigious and meaningful award. In the meantime, we will continue to prove that we are worthy, ready and willing.”
