Rankin goes beyond the stats
Eli Rosenswaike, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: Sports
In baseball, statistics are sacred. But sometimes the numbers fail to tell the whole story.
In the case of Bill Rankin, a fifth-year senior for the Massachusetts baseball team, this definitely holds true.
If you want to know how important the left-handed center fielder is to the Minutemen, don't look at the .160 batting average - or any other number, for that matter - but rather ask any one of his teammates about Rankin's many contributions.
"He always gets the job done whenever he's called upon," junior captain Bryan Garrity said. "He does all the little things that often go unnoticed, such as moving guys over or dropping a bunt down. Even when he's struggling with the bat, he finds ways to [get on-base], whether it's by drawing a walk or getting hit by a pitch."
"Bill brings it everyday, and he works hard day in and day out," added senior captain Travis Munsey. "If things don't go his way, he doesn't mope or hang his head. He's definitely a good leader and even greater teammate."
Rankin certainly didn't need to worry about going unnoticed this weekend against George Washington. Then again, when you lay-out and make a full-extension diving catch with the bases loaded - in a tie game, no less - you don't have to worry about flying under the radar.
The catch came in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, with the score tied, 1-1, in the top of the sixth inning. UMass pitcher Jim Cassidy cruised through the first five innings, but ran into serious trouble in the sixth. After two hit batsmen and an error on first baseman Bryan Adamski, Cassidy walked in a run to give the Colonials a 2-1 edge.
With no outs and the bases still loaded, Chris Marsicano's deep drive to right-center field threatened to break the game wide open for the Colonials. Rankin wasn't about to let that happen.
"You know, it's one of those fun things to do," Rankin said with a grin. "You don't even really think about it when the ball is hit. I just saw the ball off the bat, got a pretty good jump, and I was able to cover enough ground to get there and make a bid. Thankfully, I was able to put it in the mitt. After I caught it, I got back up and got the ball in as fast as I could."
In the case of Bill Rankin, a fifth-year senior for the Massachusetts baseball team, this definitely holds true.
If you want to know how important the left-handed center fielder is to the Minutemen, don't look at the .160 batting average - or any other number, for that matter - but rather ask any one of his teammates about Rankin's many contributions.
"He always gets the job done whenever he's called upon," junior captain Bryan Garrity said. "He does all the little things that often go unnoticed, such as moving guys over or dropping a bunt down. Even when he's struggling with the bat, he finds ways to [get on-base], whether it's by drawing a walk or getting hit by a pitch."
"Bill brings it everyday, and he works hard day in and day out," added senior captain Travis Munsey. "If things don't go his way, he doesn't mope or hang his head. He's definitely a good leader and even greater teammate."
Rankin certainly didn't need to worry about going unnoticed this weekend against George Washington. Then again, when you lay-out and make a full-extension diving catch with the bases loaded - in a tie game, no less - you don't have to worry about flying under the radar.
The catch came in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, with the score tied, 1-1, in the top of the sixth inning. UMass pitcher Jim Cassidy cruised through the first five innings, but ran into serious trouble in the sixth. After two hit batsmen and an error on first baseman Bryan Adamski, Cassidy walked in a run to give the Colonials a 2-1 edge.
With no outs and the bases still loaded, Chris Marsicano's deep drive to right-center field threatened to break the game wide open for the Colonials. Rankin wasn't about to let that happen.
"You know, it's one of those fun things to do," Rankin said with a grin. "You don't even really think about it when the ball is hit. I just saw the ball off the bat, got a pretty good jump, and I was able to cover enough ground to get there and make a bid. Thankfully, I was able to put it in the mitt. After I caught it, I got back up and got the ball in as fast as I could."
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