There was a palpable excitement at UNC Wilmington baseball’s media day in early February. During the media’s discussion with head coach Mark Scalf, the question of comparing this year’s roster with some of the best teams in UNCW history came up. Scalf himself even commented on the larger-than-average media turn out. On paper, this team looked deep. The entire starting pitching staff was returning. Mat Batts, Ryan LaGrange and Kelly Secrest, all 2013 CAA first team selections, were returning. Preseason expectations were through the roof, as UNCW was the heavy preseason favorite to win the CAA this year.

And yet, roughly halfway through the season, the team has a record of 14-16. A slow start was both tolerable and understandable, but for a team with such lofty expectations, a slow half is much less so. The team, as anyone whose spent time around them will tell you, is full of good guys—which makes discussing their shortcomings even tougher for this member of the student-media who very purposely put student before media. As a member of the media, it’s been a puzzling season. As a member of the student body, it’s been nothing short of disappointing.

The offense was going to be a work in progress. The team lost two of its arguably best hitters from last year in Michael Bass and Tyler Molinaro. Bass was a machine at the top of the order, a consistent leadoff man who also happened to lead the team in slugging percentage (.560!). He was also an excellent base runner, converting 26 of his 27 steals.  Molinaro, while often times too free of a swinger, provided a ton of power in the middle of the order. This isn’t even taking into account Hunter Ridge, who’s record-setting career at UNCW takes a back seat to his late-season expulsion from the team.

While not nearly the all-around hitter Bass was quite yet, there’s a lot to like in freshman center fielder Casey Golden. His average (.282) leaves a bit to be desired from the leadoff spot, but keep in mind that he’s a freshman who has 28 games under his belt. Golden has shown a knack for finding the gaps, and his eight doubles on the year is tied for most on the team. He plays excellent centerfield and is 3-3 in stolen bases this year. Going forward, there’s a lot to be excited about with Golden.

It would be remiss not to mention the year the Corey Dick is having. While he’s cooled off over the last week or so, the junior first baseman is still having a hell of a year. In the cleanup spot, Dick is providing both consistent hitting (.319 average) and a relative amount of pop, leading the team with four home runs on the year. 

Third baseman Ryan LaGrange, by all means, is having a decent year as well. His .283 average is somewhat unexpected, especially following a breakout 2013 in which he hit almost 100 points higher (.370). Besides the low average, LaGrange is second on the team with three home runs—two of which he hit in the same game—and second on the team with 20 RBI’s. What can’t be overlooked, however, is his strikeout rate. In 120 at-bats this year, LaGrange has struck out 27 times, meaning that roughly 22% of his at-bats end with a swing-and-a-miss. To put that in perspective, LaGrange had 211 at-bats last year and struck out 38 times, roughly 18%. While that might not seem like an increase worth worrying about, keep in mind that with UNCW about halfway through their season, LaGrange is on pace to strikeout 54 times in 240 at-bats. If those numbers hold true, LaGrange will end the year with 29 more at-bats than he did last year, as well as 16 more strikeouts.  

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for the Seahawks, though. Outfielder/DH Luke Dunlap continues to be an under appreciated part of their offense. The junior continues to hit well for average, leading the team by hitting .325 a year after he hit .338. He ranks second on the team in on-base percentage (.423) and ranks in the top five for total bases, doubles, walks and slugging percentage.

The problem with the Seahawk’s offense lies in its consistency. Where last year, the team might string together an inning with four or five hits, this year’s team gets two. Then they’ll ground into an inning-ending double play. Or pop out into foul territory. A team that was expected to hit for average and run well on the base paths in order to make up for their lack of power has done neither very well thus far.

Currently 5^th in the CAA, there’s still plenty of time for this team to turn it around. There’s no denying that there’s talent on this team. The CAA is not particularly strong this year either, which bodes well for the Seahawks if they can put a run together. Only two teams – William and Mary and College of Charleston – have winning records. There’s a whole other half of the season to be played, a whole other half in which the Seahawks primarily play sub-.500 teams who, on paper, are much less talented.

The CAA tournament also returns to Wilmington this year, another advantage for the team. On the year, UNCW is 10-9 at home while 3-7 on the road. There’s no question that having the tournament on home turf would provide the team a little extra motivation. But with a team that began the season by heavily promoting the catch phrase #Omahawks (a painful play on words that references the College World Series, played in Omaha, Nebraska), the clock is ticking.