FAMU baseball's ability to separate pre-game fun and game focus illustrates a historic season

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FAMU baseball's ability to separate pre-game fun and game focus illustrates a historic season

Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat · Tallahassee Democrat

Sat, Jun 3, 2023 ·

8 min read

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GAINESVILLE― Florida A&M baseball left a favorable impression at the NCAA Gainesville Regional.

But the Ratters won't return to Tallahassee with the program's first NCAA Tournament win.

After falling 3-0 to No. 2 national seed and host Florida Friday, FAMU was eliminated by No. 10 UConn 9-6 here at Condron Family Park Saturday.

The Rattlers (29-30) slammed four home runs ― by Janmikell Bastardo , Ty Hanchey , Joseph Pierini , and Jared Weber ― but were unable to slow the Huskies (44-16) late.

Tied 5-5 after five innings, UConn scored four runs in the eighth and ninth innings to hold off FAMU and advance in the four-team, double-elimination tournament.

UConn, the No. 2 seed in the Gainesville Regional behind host Florida, is making its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 24thoverall.

The Huskies lost to Texas Tech 3-2 in Friday's opener but had not gone 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament since the 1990s.

The Rattlers made their third NCAA Tournament appearance in school history (2015, 2019 , and 2023) — all under head coach Jamey Shouppe . FAMU clinched this year's automatic postseason bid for winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship .

"Disappointed, but I guess this is the best place you can be disappointed," Shouppe said during the postgame press conference. "We thought we had a chance to make some more special memories. It was a good season for FAMU baseball, but we still got to get over the barrier of coming to the regional tournament and winning a baseball game."

After being outscored 49-7 in their first two NCAA Tournament appearances in Gainesville (2015) and Atlanta (2019), FAMU put major scares into the Gators and Huskies.

The Rattlers outhit Florida 7-5 and had two runners thrown out at home plate in the top of the ninth in the 3-0 defeat.

They led UConn 1-0 after one inning, 2-1 after three and scored two runs in the fifth to tie the game 5-5.

FAMU ace pitcher Hunter Viets , starting his third game in 11 days, was a "warrior," according to Shouppe. The sixth-year senior threw 4.2 innings, surrendering 11 hits and five earned runs. He fanned three, walked three and threw 103 pitches, 64 for strikes.

Reliever Zach Morea , throwing in his 11th consecutive game, allowed three earned runs on two hits, including a home run, in 3.1 innings. Grant Harrison allowed one earned run in an inning pitched.

The Huskies outhit the Rattlers 13-8.

"It says a lot when it takes two top teams in the country to end your season," Shouppe said. "We saw some elite clubs, and the SWAC Tournament prepared us for this. That's attributed to the heart and the character of these young men.

"Hopefully, we're building a culture to continue that. I still think the program's ascending and the future's still bright."

MORE RATTLERNEWS COVERAGE

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"Once a Rattler...": All-American defensive lineman Kamari Stephens turns down FBS offers to remain with FAMU

Not satisfied: FAMU baseball's NCAA Regional opener proves team is not interested in a participation trophy

A day in the life of the FAMU Rattlers baseball team in preparation for the NCAA Tournament

Florida A&M baseball huddles up for a team prayer ahead of the NCAA Tournament Gainesville Regional against Florida at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida on Friday, June 2, 2023

FAMU baseball head coach Jamey Shouppe allowed Tallahassee Democrat sports reporter Gerald Thomas III to shadow the team ahead of Saturday's NCAA Tournament Gainesville Regional game against UConn. Thomas began following the team by riding the bus with them to Condron Family Ballpark and ended just before the first pitch of the game.

Here's what happened:

9:08 a.m.― Rattlers began to leave their Holiday Inn Gainesville-University Center hotel rooms to board the custom FAMU-wrapped Astro charter bus.

9:17 a.m.― FAMU's team bus, driven by Jody Revell departs from the hotel for Florida's Condron Family Ballpark.

Instead of headphones, Jackson decides to sing 'I Smile' by Kirk Franklin and 'Blessings' by Big Sean aloud for his pre-game turn up.

9:26 a.m.― The Rattlers arrive to their game site. Shouppe explains what's at stake and gives one final crash course to his team on UConn.

"I started to ask the question, 'Why do I think every time we go to battle with you guys, good things happen? Because they usually do,'" Shouppe told his team. "Play our game, get after it and see what happens. Regardless of what happens, we're going to stay together, compete, execute, and fight like hell the rest of time we're here.

"Play smart. Play good. Have fun."

Revell is standing at the bus exit slapping fives with FAMU players and motivating them ahead of the UConn NCAA Tournament Gainesville Regional contest.

Jody Revell transported Florida A&M baseball on the way to winning a SWAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament Appearance. Here he is showing his support to the Rattlers ahead of their Gainesville Regional Game against UConn at Condron Family Ballpark, Gainesville, Florida, Saturday, June 3, 2023

"It's been a privilege an honor, and a pleasure to drive for them this year," Revell tells me. "Happy to see what these guys have done and accomplished. It's a good time to be a Rattler.

"Go Rattlers!"

9:33 a.m.― FAMU stretches on the turf field outside of Condron Family Ballpark.

9:40 a.m.― FAMU takes the main field for first set of warmups ― swinging mechanics, throwing, catching.

Florida A&M baseball catcher Tyler Dunbar (30) soaks up his first-time experience in a NCAA Tournament by snapping some photos with his polaroid camera at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida, Saturday, June 3, 2023

9:56 a.m.― UConn arrives to the stadium. Shouppe and Huskies head coach Jim Penders greet each other and have a pregame conversation.

Shouppe walks into the dugout and says, "If we win this tournament, drinks on me" in response to 'Beers on Me' by Dierks Bentley playing through the stadium's sound system.

The Rattlers, who were in Florida's home dugout, discovered that the Gators have an air-conditioned bench.

"Can't hide money," a FAMU player said.

10:27 a.m.― The Rattlers' warm up ends; UConn takes the field.

11:05 a.m.― FAMU returns to the field for some throwing drills.

11:14 a.m.― Throwing practice ends, but Chiles alum, FAMU pitcher Cameron Kelly and catcher Hanchey remains on the field for some extra reps.

Sebastian Greico , a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, tells me he enjoyed his first year at FAMU and wanted to play in the state of his hometown Tampa so his family can see him often.

11:21 a.m.― FAMU hits the field for some field work.

11:30 a.m.― Field work ends, but pitchers are getting warmed up.

11:47 a.m.― Entire team hits the field one last time for a light jog to loosen up ahead of the game.

11:50 a.m.― Team huddles, Shouppe addresses them.

"New standard set today. Let's make it happen," Shouppe tells the team.

Jackson leads the team prayer; follows by singing 'In the Sanctuary' by Kurt Carr .

Viets, who's starting the game for the Rattlers, is getting ready to play in his first NCAA Tournament game as FAMU chases its first national postseason victory.

"Blessed man, honestly," Viets tells me. "So proud of the way we got here and I'm glad I get this opportunity to be pitching on this stage. Big for us. Big for FAMU as a whole.

"Hopefully, we'll make some history today."

Florida A&M baseball pitcher Hunter Viets (22) prepares to warm up ahead of the NCAA Tournament Gainesville Regional against UConn at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida, Saturday, June 3, 2023

12:06 p.m.― Viets throws the first pitch, which is a strike against UConn's leadoff hitter David Smith .

FAMU falls short in capturing program's coveted first NCAA Tournament win, but still aware of all accomplishments

Florida A&M baseball catcher Ty Hanchey (right) celebrates his homerun with outfielder Ty Jackson (left) during the NCAA Tournament Gainesville Regional game against UConn at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida, Saturday, June 3, 2023

FAMU didn't get that eluding first win in the NCAA Tournament.

But nonetheless, the Rattlers still had a historic season.

"We had nothing to lose coming into this," Hanchey, who transferred to FAMU from Norfolk State in 2022, said during postgame media availability. "The goal was to upset somebody. We went in there with that mindset and everybody played really loose. Bittersweet ending. I really wish we would've got one, but I'm glad with how these guys fought.

"Coach Shouppe ― biggest thanks to him and my teammates because baseball is a tough sport. And my mental adjustment made me the player I am today."

The season included winning the program's first SWAC title, placing Shouppe on the shortlist of coaches to win conference championships in multiple leagues (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and SWAC).

The Rattlers also broke and reset multiple program records such as hits (610), RBI (414), doubles (114), and homeruns (73).

Weber and Hanchey were integral in making that happen as both closed their college career on Saturday. The duo combined for 150 hits, 102 RBI's, 28 doubles, and 22 homeruns in 2023.

"Definitely a great season," Weber, a Wakulla High School alum, said. "It's better for us when we have four to six guys in the lineup that are hitting the ball really well. It pushes each of us. Sort of friendly competition and that's what made us a historical ball club this year. There's not a single guy on this team that I'm not going to miss.

"I can't say enough about what Coach Shouppe has done for me. He's made me a better man on and off the field. I could see he believed in me and that he was going to give me the resources I need to get better at this game."

Shouppe is just proud of how his team stuck together and navigated through the trials and tribulations of the 2023 baseball season.

The 3-9 record to end the regular season and a squandered lead to Alabama State during the conference tournament ended with the Rattlers hoisting the SWAC trophy and earning a bid to play on the national stage.

And that's what he'll remember this FAMU squad, which had eight seniors, for the most.

"It's not a good feeling to know that your college career is done," Shouppe said. "They've given us everything. These guys have been committed to what we've tried to establish as a program. These guys were unified in everything they tried to do. Everybody was in that dugout for a reason.

"The world could look at our baseball team and learn a lot of lessons on how we should treat one another. Just FAMU baseball. We were just men trying to get a job accomplished.

"That's fun to watch."

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

Follow the Tallahassee Democrat on social media at Tallahassee Democrat (Facebook), TallahasseeDemocrat (Instagram), and @TDOnline (Twitter)

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Baseball: Shadowing the Rattlers during the NCAA Tournament Regional

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