Bryant University has had quite a year in athletics, the kind of year that would have been but a twinkle in the school’s eye not too long ago. Bryant, located in Smithfield, R.I., was a Division II school for many years, like many of its similar counterparts in New England. In 2007, the school – and its full complement of strong athletic programs – was invited to join the Northeast Conference. That year marked the first step in a five-year transition into Division I.
The 2012-13 academic year was always slated to be the culmination of that process, but I don’t know if anyone expected it to be like this. The men’s basketball team made national headlines when it went from two wins in 2011-12 to 19 in 2012-13. Now the baseball team – which has had plenty of recent success but hasn’t been eligible to compete in the postseason – is in the midst of another eye-catching season.
The Bulldogs own the nation’s longest active win streak. It currently sits at 19 games. They last lost on St. Patrick’s Day.
The college baseball world has taken notice, with the Bulldogs getting votes in national polls and Baseball America featuring them.
Before you write them off as just a nice story, consider this. Bryant plays in the Northeast Conference. So does Stony Brook. And last year, Stony Brook crashed the College World Series. The Bulldogs may not be quite as talented as their conference brethren, but there’s certainly potential for them to make some postseason noise.
As far as the Cape League, Bryant hasn’t been quite as busy as Stony Brook, which has started to send half-a-dozen every year. But a few Bulldogs have made the short trip, most notably when Kevin Brown (Orleans) and Craig Schlitter (Falmouth) did it last year. Brown has been Bryant’s most productive hitter this year, with a .397 average, four homers, 11 doubles and a team-best 29 RBI. Schlitter is second on the team in strikeouts and has a 3.64 ERA as a weekend starter.
Sophomore pitcher Kevin McAvoy will be the next to head for the Cape. He’s ticketed for Y-D in 2013.
No matter what happens to the Bulldogs this season, McAvoy won’t be the last. New England has a new – very new – baseball power.