Winston-Salem State, in an effort to increase scholarship dollars for its revenue sports, has decided to drop its baseball program.
The school made the announcement Friday afternoon.
Coach Kevin Ritsche, who has run the program for the past nine seasons, learned of the decision in an afternoon meeting with interim athletics director George Knox. In a later meeting with about half of the players present because of spring break, Knox told them about disbanding the program after this season.
Knox said a big reason for dropping baseball is that the CIAA no longer sponsors the sport.
“This was a university decision,” Knox said. “This was a tough decision to make when you have to tell student-athletes their fate.”
Knox said the budget for the baseball team is about $350,000 and that would be used to help other sports.
Knox said all of the players on scholarships will keep them until they graduate from WSSU.
“If a freshman is on scholarship and he decides to stay the next three years and graduate, he’ll keep that scholarship,” he said.
The baseball program, which is in its second season as an independent, is 14-7 this season. The team will play the rest of the season and will try to receive an at-large bid for the Division II regional playoffs. Competing as an independent in 2018, WSSU went 30-20 and did not make the regional playoffs.
Ritsche, along with hitting coach Rob Woodall, started the program from scratch in 2010 after the Rams rejoined the CIAA after flirting with going to Division I. In seven seasons in the CIAA, the Rams won six conference championships, one of the best stretches in conference history.
Heading into this weekend’s games, Ritsche, a six-time CIAA coach of the year, has compiled an overall record of 297-160.
Because WSSU doesn’t have a baseball field, it has rented BB&T Ballpark from the Winston-Salem Dash and the city since the program was brought back.
That has come at a hefty price. This year, the school rented the park for $42,000 to play 23 games, which includes practice time, according to Ritsche. WSSU’s final game at BB&T Ballpark will be played April 23 against Catawba.
The Rams have played and practiced there every season, something Ritsche said was a big advantage in luring some of the top players from our area.
Despite the news about the program being disbanded, Ritsche says he’s committed to this year’s team.
“My goals don’t change for the kids, and I’m just going to spend the rest of the season making sure that I give them all the support that they need and help them as much as I can.” he said. “It’s tough to build a program that has changed the image of WSSU athletics in such a positive manner for nine years only to see it disappear.
“I feel sorry for the kids and tried to convince administration to wait five weeks and let the seniors enjoy their last season and a chance to compete in the playoffs. I feel it was taken away prematurely and I’m sorry for that.”
The program has around five scholarships that is spread around to its 26 players, with most of those players coming from the Triad. Of the 26 players on the roster 14 are from the area.
One local player is center fielder E.P. Reese, who played baseball at North Davidson High and is a transfer from N.C. State and Liberty. Reese’s father, Ed, heard about the news and was blindsided.
“He loves it there and he loves the coaches and everything about the program and the school,” Ed Reese said. “It’s a shame this is happening. E.P. made the Dean’s List first semester and was doing well so this will hit him hard.”
Ed said the hope for his son is to have a good season so he could possibly get drafted by a team in major leagues.
“He’ll be playing baseball again next season somewhere, but it won’t be at Winston-Salem State now that this announcement has been made,” Ed said. “This really sucks for all those guys on the team.”
Before the baseball program was resurrected in 2010, it had been dormant for 32 years.
One reason WSSU reinstated baseball was to get back in the CIAA soon after deciding not to continue its trek to Division I and the MEAC. As part of the CIAA bylaws a school joining the league at that time had to offer baseball.
One highlight for the program took place in June when Randy Norris, a star outfielder, was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 19th round. Norris was a three-year starter from High Point who is at sprint training with the Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz.
This is the first time WSSU has cut a sport since 2012 when it dropped the men’s golf program. Knox, however, said the men’s golf program will be reinstated next spring.
“We are adding men’s golf, and that’s a sport we haven’t had here in awhile,” Knox said.
CIAA CHAMPIONS

Photo courtesy of Winston-Salem State University -- 04/21/12 -- WSSU baseball and softball teams pose after each team won CIAA titles on Saturday at Virginia State. Both teams repeated as CIAA champions.
BBC TYLER HICKERNELL

Journal photo by Lauren Carroll -- 04/25/13 -- Tyler Hickernell of Winston-Salem State University bats at baseball practice. SPT wsj_0426_wssu_bb_CAR3
WSSU BASEBALL TEAM

Journal Photo by Lauren Carroll -- 04/25/2013 --The Winston-Salem State University baseball team has a meeting following practice Thursday, April 25, 2013. SPT wsj_0426_wssu_bb_CAR1
BBC KEVIN RITSCHE

Journal photo by Walt Unks -- 05/08/12 -- Winston-Salem State University head baseball coach Kevin Ritsche leads practice. He has lead the Rams to a second-straight CIAA championship and into the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Nate Steger 2

Courtesy of Winston-Salem State Athletics Nate Steger, WSSU baseball 20160328w_spt
WSSU

Members of the 2017 CIAA Championship baseball team pose after receiving their championship rings at halftime on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Journal Photo by Andrew Dye) 20180114w_spt_wssuhoops
BBC CONNOR ANDRUS

Journal photo by Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez -- 05/16/13 -- Winston-Salem State's Connor Andrus, left, stands at home plate as East Stroudsburg's Chris Knott, second from right, celebrates bringing in another run during the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional at Wake Forest Ballpark on Thursday, May 16, 2013. Winston-Salem State fell to East Stroudburg with a final score of 8-6. wsj_0516_wssubb
WSSU TITLES

Photo courtesy of WSSU -- 2011 -- Winston-Salem State University won baseball and softball championships in the 2011 season.
Nate Steger 1

Courtesy of Winston-Salem State Athletics Nate Steger, WSSU baseball player 20160328w_spt
BBC KEVIN RITSCHE

Journal photo by Lauren Carroll -- 02/01/14 -- Winston-Salem State baseball coach Kevin Ritsche in the dugout during a game against the University of Mount Olive, held at BB&T Ballpark Saturday, February 1, 2014. SPT WSJ_0202_WSSU_BB CAR
BBC J.R. WRIGHT

Journal photo by Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez -- 05/16/13 -- Winston-Salem State's J.R. Wright, center, pitches against East Stroudsburg University during the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional at Wake Forest Ballpark on Thursday, May 16, 2013. Winston-Salem State fell to East Stroudburg with a final score of 8-6. wsj_0516_wssubb
DOMINIQUE FITZGERALD

Photo courtesy of Michelle Foster -- 2010 -- Dominique Fitzgerald, a football player at Winston-Salem State, also played baseball in high school. He's very interested in playing baseball at WSSU in the spring. 06 RAMSBB
DOMINIQUE FITZGERALD

Photo courtesy of Michelle Foster -- 2010 -- Dominique Fitzgerald, a football player at Winston-Salem State, also played baseball in high school. He's very interested in playing baseball at WSSU in the spring. 06 RAMSBB
BBC DEVIN MCLEMORE

Journal photo by Lauren Carroll -- 02/01/14 -- Devin McLemore of Winston-Salem State University, background, misses the tag on Chase Edwards of the University of Mount Olive, allowing him safely back to second base during a game held at BB&T Ballpark Saturday, February 1, 2014. SPT WSJ_0202_WSSU_BB CAR
BBC RAYMOND CRAWFORD

WSSU photo -- 2014 -- Ray Crawford was the CIAA player of the year in baseball for 2014. He’s a transfer from UNC Greensboro who starred at Dudley High School.
BBC JR WRIGHT

Journal photo by Lauren Carroll -- 02/01/14 -- JR Wright pitches for Winston-Salem State University during a game against the University of Mount Olive, held at BB&T Ballpark Saturday, February 1, 2014. SPT WSJ_0202_WSSU_BB CAR
BBC JORDAN CARLTON

Journal photo by Lauren Carroll -- 02/01/14 -- Jordan Carlton pitches for Winston-Salem State University during a game against the University of Mount Olive, held at BB&T Ballpark Saturday, February 1, 2014. SPT WSJ_0202_WSSU_BB CAR
Post a comment as
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.