Written by Chris O’Dell
The Bison baseball team has been working on steadily improving its rotation in the last few years. When head coach Patrick McGaha and his team can get a young walk-on to come in and have an immediate impact in the staff, things look promising for the future of Harding baseball.
Sophomore Kyle Cline, from Ormond Beach, Fla., has made instant contributions to the pitching staff for the Bisons. As a freshman last season, Cline started 12 games and posted an 8-4 record with a 4.69 ERA. Cline’s eight wins led the team and were good for third best in a single season in school history.
However, Cline wasn’t squeaking by with close victories after pitching the minimum number of innings to qualify for a win. In his first season playing collegiate baseball, Cline led the team with six complete games, 78.2 innings pitched, 57 strikeouts and a .262 opponent batting average. Cline said age has nothing to do with a player’s success on the diamond.
“Natural talent and ability are a part of what makes a successful player,” Cline said. “The largest aspects of it all are hard work, tenacity and motivation, which all breed success.”
Despite a rough start to the 2010 season, Cline and his teammates are ready to put the past behind them and move forward with the remaining part of the season.
“The season has had its ups and downs,” Cline said. “The beginning of this year was a little rough, but we are coming up to a steady but increasing level of confidence just in time for the bulk of conference play.”
The team began the season with four consecutive losses to powerhouse Abilene Christian University. Through the team’s first 12 games, the Bisons posted a record of 2-10. However, the team has won 12 of its past 15 games, including a doubleheader sweep over Williams Baptist and Ouachita Baptist in consecutive series.
After his first six starts, Cline has posted a 2-3 record with a 6.54 ERA — numbers down from last season’s stellar year. But despite a rocky start for Cline and the Bisons, Harding is still in prime position for a conference run in the last half of the season.
“The season so far has tested our character at times and will continue to do so in the face of adversity,” Cline said. “But I believe in this team and I believe in every one of those guys playing behind me.”
Cline has still shown he is capable on multiple occasions this season. The 6-foot sophomore was recently named the Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time in his career.
“Knowing the different players in the GSC and knowing the caliber of the conference itself said a lot when I was named player of the week,” Cline said. “It is a great compliment, and I am honored to have been the recipient of it for a second time in two years.”
Cline became the second Bison pitcher to be honored with the award this season after senior Troy Keith pitched the sixth no-hitter in school history earlier in the year.
“Troy is a great teammate, and I think more people give him credit than he does himself for that feat a few weeks ago,” Cline said. “Despite the one comment that he made to me, there has been no teasing about me getting a no-no as well. Although I will, at some point, get the seventh.”
If Cline’s history is any indication, then it might not surprise many spectators if he gets the seventh no-hitter in school history. With the immediate impact the right-hander has made in the Bison rotation, the team is now looking for postseason success. Cline said he is confident this group will find it this season.
“I am predicting going into the tournament as a second seed in the west division,” Cline said. “And from there it only depends on how far we want to go.”
