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UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS ATHLETICS
Costello named 2012 Baseball MVP; First-year member Dallas makes SCAC Championship Tournament, understands 'what it takes'
Posted: May 18, 2012

Costello named 2012 Baseball MVP; First-year member Dallas makes SCAC Championship Tournament, understands 'what it takes'

IRVING, Texas - After starting a red-hot 9-0 to begin the 2012 season, the University of Dallas baseball team finished with a record of 23-17 (10-10 SCAC) in head coach Fraser Holmes' third year at the helm.

Baseball battles inconsistencies as first-year member of SCAC:

The Crusaders notched their first-ever Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) triumph on Sunday, Feb. 19, with a 15-0 seven inning run-rule of Austin College in Game 1. In Game 2 of the day's road doubleheader in Sherman, Texas, Dallas' bats continued their assault, to the tune of a 14-4 win over the 'Roos.

The confident Crusaders put their perfect 9-0 (2-0 SCAC) mark to the test on Feb. 25-26 in two home games versus highly-touted Trinity University, who trekked to Crusader Field with a 10-1 record.

Looking to resonate a message throughout the NCAA Division III baseball community and remain unscathed in 2012, Dallas entered the Texas-sized showdown fresh off a 12-8 home victory over the University of Texas-Dallas.  

To the chagrin of the Crusader faithful, Trinity bested Dallas 12-1 on Saturday before notching a 5-0 victory on Sunday. 

Although the Tigers held the early upper-hand in the SCAC West Division standings, Dallas had no time to sulk if they were to secure a place in the 2012 SCAC Championship Tournament.   

During a 16 game stretch, spanning Feb. 25 to Mar. 31, things looked bleak for the Crusaders, who went 4-12 overall, including 1-9 in SCAC competition.

On Saturday, Mar. 31, the squad broke a four-game losing skid, with a 5-4 decision in Game 2 against the visiting Hendrix College Warriors. From this point, onward, Dallas garnered a 7-1 record in the SCAC. 

Crusaders reach 2012 SCAC Championship Tournament:

2012 SCAC Championship | Bracket | Official Website

In their inaugural season competing in the SCAC, Dallas claimed the West Division's No. 3 seed in the 2012 SCAC Championship Tournament after amassing a 10-10 record in conference play.

vs. Birmingham-Southern College:

Boxscore | Recap | Photos

With six teams vying for the SCAC's automatic bid into an NCAA regional, the Crusaders drew No. 1 East Division seed Birmingham-Southern College in both teams' initial game of the double-elimination tournament.  

The two squads squared off on Thursday, Apr. 26, under the lights of USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn.

Aggressive base-running in the top-of-the-first helped catapult the Crusaders to a 2-0 advantage over the No. 8 nationally ranked Panthers.

In the first, 6-foot-1 senior left fielder Devin Arnold (McKinney, Texas/McKinney H.S.) and 6-foot senior center fielder Brian Shelburne (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth H.S.) successfully executed two double-steals, with Arnold stealing home on the latter.                                                                                                 

Unfortunately for the Crusaders, Birmingham-Southern countered with two first inning runs of their own, and chased Dallas' starting pitcher Michael Schweiss (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) after four innings. Schweiss, a 6-foot-2 senior righty, allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks, while striking out four.

Scoring a pair of runs in each the first, third and fourth innings, Birmingham-Southern – the eventual 2012 SCAC Champion -- dealt Dallas a 6-4 loss.

vs. Trinity University:

Boxscore | Recap | Photos

The bracket shook where Dallas was then slated to battle No. 1 West Division seed Trinity University on Friday afternoon in a win-or-go-home affair for the Crusaders.

Serving as home team, Dallas boasted a 7-2 lead in the fifth inning after a two-run homer by Arnold sparked a six-run bottom-of-the-fifth.

6-foot-4 sophomore right-hander Andrew Bossert (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood H.S.) blanked Trinity for four innings, but encountered tough sledding in the fifth and sixth innings, wherein the Tigers produced a combined six runs. In six innings of work, Bossert allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks, while striking out six.

5-foot-11 senior right-handed hurler Michael Byers (Front Royal, Va./Seton Home School) and the Crusaders took an 8-6 lead into the ninth. With designs of advancing to Saturday, things went awry for Dallas in the top-of-the-ninth. In the inning, Trinity tallied three runs to seize the lead, a 9-8 advantage.

A Bossert sac-fly allowing 5-foot-10 designated hitter Nico Caluda (New Orleans, La./Jesuit H.S.) to score in the bottom-of-the-ninth extended the game. Knotted 9-9, both teams headed for extra frames. Unable to muster a run in the bottom-of-the-eleventh after a successful sac-fly by the Tigers, Dallas succumbed to Trinity, 10-9, in eleven innings and thus concluded their 2012 campaign.

Costello named 2012 Most Valuable Player: 

It is no shocker that senior catcher Varea Costello (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.) was voted by his peers as the 2012 University of Dallas Baseball Most Valuable Player. 

The 5-foot-9 Costello has shown a knack for giving his all in anything he does, and is willing to do the little things it takes to win.

He started all 34 games he played at battery for the Crusaders in 2012, hitting .248, scoring 18 runs and batting in 17 more. He led the team in times hit by pitch with 12.

Behind the plate, Costello boasted a .990 fielding percentage, good for second best on the team, and caught 12 potential base stealers. In 2011, he was named a United States Collegiate Athletic Association All-American.

Costello has also found success beyond the baseball diamond. A Theology major, Pre-Med concentration, Costello boasts a cumulative 3.81 GPA of and earned a place on the Dean's List at least once each semester in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

His academic accomplishments, including passing his Theology Comprehensive Exams with distinction, qualified him as a finalist for the Sister Clodovia Pre-Medical Scholarship. 

Others are taking notice of the well-rounded Costello, as he was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference's Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for the week ending May 8, 2012. 

He is expected to enroll next year at the Rocky Vista School of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colo., intending to specialize in pediatrics. 

Costello hopes to qualify for the Health Professional Scholarship Program offered by the United States Navy, as long as he keeps his rough and tumble toughness on the baseball diamond and out of the pediatrician's office.

Arnold, Byers, Schweiss lead record-setting Senior Class:

Leading the Crusaders in just about every offensive category in 2012, senior left fielder Devin Arnold finished with a single-season school record 38 stolen bases. 

Appearing in 37 games on the season, Arnold's 38 stolen bases rank him first in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and tenth in NCAA Division III Baseball. 

On Thursday, Apr. 26, in a 6-4 loss to Birmingham-Southern College, Arnold tied his previous record 36 bags swiped (2011) in Dallas' first game of the SCAC Championship Tournament. 

He then set the new bar with two more stolen bases, in the Crusaders' 10-9 eleven-inning defeat to Trinity University the following day. 

Senior right-handed pitcher Michael Byers (10-2) captured his tenth victory of the season on Saturday, Apr. 21, when Dallas defeated Dallas Christian College, 10-6, in the back-half of a doubleheader at Crusader Field. 

Byers' 10 wins in the 2012 season tie him with Jake Carney (2000) and Jerry Gramly (1964) for most wins in a single season by any Crusader pitcher.

58.1 innings pitched by Byers in his senior campaign were second to only senior comrade Michael Schweiss' 61 innings. 

Sporting a 3.54 ERA in 2012, Schweiss was asked to step into the starter's role from that of the closer in 2011. His meniscule 1.03 ERA in 2011 was third best in all of NCAA DIII Baseball, while nine wins ranked him ninth. 

Schweiss' two saves in 2012 push him to nine for his career, a school record. His 67 career appearances tie him with Philip Carkhuff for most in Crusaders history. His 25 appearances in 2011 are a single season record.  

This group, along with seniors Varea Costello, Stephen Hansen and Brian Shelburne were instrumental in helping Dallas achieve a 100-71-1 record in their tenure with the team. 

Rangers' Ballpark in Arlington:

Boxscore | Recap | Photos 

In consecutive seasons, the University of Dallas baseball team defeated Arlington Baptist College at the neutral site Rangers' Ballpark in Arlington. 

The latest installment at the home of the reigning back-to-back American League Champion Texas Rangers occurred on Mar. 15, 2012.

On this day, the Crusaders ran past the Patriots, 12-1, in nine innings. 

Maintaining a 1-0 lead through four innings, Dallas blew the door open in the top-of-the-fifth by scoring seven runs. In his second at-bat of the inning, Caluda tallied two of his game-high three RBIs on a single into right center.

For insurance, the Crusaders tacked on four runs in the top-of-the-ninth to counter Arlington Baptist's eighth inning score. 

Schweiss received the start and pitched four scoreless innings before Byers became the winning pitcher of record after allowing one hit over the fifth and sixth innings. 

On Mar. 17, 2011, at the Ballpark, Dallas defeated Arlington Baptist, 7-2, in a scheduled nine-inning affair.

These opportunities were made possible by both squads teaming up to sell tickets to select 2012 Rangers' home games. 

Walk-off fashion (x5):

1) Mar. 31: Dallas 5, Hendrix College 4 (F/9):

Boxscore | Recap | Photos 

Game-winning hit: Devin Arnold 

Game-winning score: Luciano Villanueva 

Game 2: University of Dallas 9th – Pounds to 1b for Womack. Villanueva singled up the middle. V. Costello out at first p to 2b, SAC; Villanueva advanced to second. D. Arnold single to right center, RBI; Villanueva scored. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. 

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2) Apr. 1: Dallas 3, Hendrix College 2 (F/11):

Boxscore | Recap | Photos 

Game-winning hit: Trevor Allred 

Game-winning score: Adam Farris 

University of Dallas 11th – A. Farris tripled to left center. T. Allred singled to left field, RBI; A. Farris scored. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. 

-  -  -  -  -  

3) Apr. 14: Dallas 3, Southwestern University 2 (F/7): 

Boxscore | Recap | Photos 

Game-winning hit: Varea Costello 

Game-winning score: Luciano Villanueva 

Game 1: University of Dallas 7th – Villanueva singled up the middle. T. Allred grounded out to 3b; Villanueva advanced to second. V. Costello singled up the middle; RBI; Villanueva scored. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. 

-  -  -  -  -  

4) Apr. 15: Dallas 6, Southwestern University 5 (F/11): 

Boxscore | Recap | Photos 

Game-winning hit: Hunter Berry (walk) 

Game-winning score: Nolan Kipp 

University of Dalas 11th – N. Kipp singled to center field. A. Bossert walked; N. Kipp advanced to second. A. Thornton grounded out to c, SAC, bunt; A. Bossert advanced to second; N. Kipp advanced to third. Villanueva intentionally walked. H. Berry walked, RBI; Villanueva advanced to second; A. Bossert advanced to third; N. Kipp scored. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB. 

-  -  -  -  -  

5) Apr. 21: Dallas 4, Dallas Christian College 3 (F/7): 

Boxscore | Recap | Photos 

Game-winning hit: Hunter Berry 

Game-winning score: Mark Carlson 

Game 1: University of Dallas 7th – D. Arnold struck out. B. Shelburne struck out looking. M. Carlson tripled to right field. H. Berry to 2b for N. Caluda / for H. Berry. H. Berry singled to right field, RBI; M. Carlson scored. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. 

A look at the numbers:

Dallas' 2012 statistical leaders (minimum 20 games played): 

     Offensive: 

     Defensive: 

     Pitching (minimum 5 games): 

2012 postseason honors: 

      Denotations:

  • College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)
  • Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) 
  • United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)

Trevor Allred (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.)

  • USCAA Baseball National All-Academic Team 

Devin Arnold (McKinney, Texas/McKinney H.S.) 

  • All-SCAC Baseball Team 
  • USCAA Baseball Honorable Mention All-American Team 

Andrew Bossert (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood H.S.) 

  • All-SCAC Honorable Mention Baseball Team 

Michael Byers (Front Royal, Va./Seton Home School)

  • USCAA Baseball Honorable Mention All-American Team 

Nico Caluda (New Orleans, La./Jesuit H.S.) 

  • CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District First Team
  • All-SCAC Baseball Team  
  • USCAA Baseball National All-Academic Team 

Mark Carlson (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Home School) 

  • SCAC All-Tournament Baseball Team Second Baseman 

Varea Costello (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.)

  • USCAA Baseball National All-Academic Team

Stephen Hansen (Shadow Hills, Calif./Verdiago Hills H.S.)

  • SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team

Michael Schweiss (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) 

  • All-SCAC Honorable Mention Baseball Team 

Brian Shelburne (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth H.S.) 

  • USCAA Baseball National All-Academic Team 

Program outlook:

Five universities will comprise the 2012-13 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and the winner of the 2013 SCAC Baseball Championship Tournament will receive an automatic bid into an NCAA regional.

How they fared in 2012:

- Austin College: (8-28, 5-18 SCAC)

- Centenary College of Louisiana: (24-14, 17-10 ASC)

- Southwestern University: (11-27, 7-13 SCAC)

- Trinity University: (36-10, 16-4 SCAC)

- University of Dallas: (23-17, 10-10 SCAC)

Centenary College will not be eligible for NCAA postseason competition in 2013. Schreiner University and Texas Luthern University will join the SCAC for the 2013-14 academic year, giving the conference seven member-institutions heading forward.

Losing six seniors to graduation in 2012, Dallas as presently constructed will return eight upperclassmen and eight underclassmen. The 2013 senior class will consist of Trevor Allred, Nico Caluda, Adam Farris, Andrew Laux and Chris Schierhorn.

Caluda's .353 batting average in 2012 was second to only Arnold's, while Schierhorn in fifteen appearances (52.2 innings) tallied a team-best 2.73 ERA.

Bolstering the roster with impact transfers and freshmen, Coach Holmes, Coach Myers and the Crusaders look to make a serious run at the 2013 SCAC Championship.

Thoughts from Coach Holmes:

In your third year managing the team, how do you feel about the program's progression? 

"I am proud of the program's progress. Although, we dipped slightly in terms of winning percentage, our team improved in a lot of areas this year, and our schedule was a tough one. 

Winning percentage isn't everything -- our primary goal was to make the conference tournament, and once we made the conference tournament, the goal shifted to winning the conference tournament. Again, although our record in the tournament wasn't what we wanted it to be, we made a good showing against two very good teams, and proved that we belonged among those teams. 

There were a lot of positives to take away from the conference tournament; one of the most important being simply experiencing the tournament setting -- the returning guys will benefit a lot from that next year, not to mention the fact that the seniors got to play for a title in a playoff setting -- something they haven't gotten to do throughout their careers here at the University of Dallas  

Aside from the on-field accomplishments, the program is moving in the right direction on other fronts as well. I was very pleased with how the Alumni Game turned out in the fall -- we had a great showing, and it was a blast. One of the most important aspects of a program is the alumni involvement, and I am going to continue to work to expand that, but in the end, the best way to get the alumni involved and excited about the program is to win, and we are going to continue to work tirelessly to rack up the W's and hopefully a conference title next year. 

Also, I am currently working with the administration on serious (and long-overdue) upgrades to our field and facilities, and I am very excited about our incoming class."    

Falling to both No. 1 seeds in the 2012 SCAC Championship Tournament, what separated these teams from your squad? 

"Honestly, there was not a huge gap between us and the top seeds. Our offense was just as potent, if not more so. Our defensive play was comparable, but one thing that was a factor for us (and it is a good thing looking ahead) was how young we were in the infield. 

We had a freshman at SS, sophomores at 2B and 1B, and our only upperclassman in the infield was a junior at 3B. More importantly, however, we were relatively short-staffed on our pitching staff compared to the other schools we faced. Our guys did throw well there, but we didn't quite have the depth of experience from top to bottom on our pitching staff that the other teams had. This is something that Coach Myers and I are working to improve, both in the guys we are bringing in next year, and in continuing to develop the young talent we already have."

How grateful are you of the six individuals comprising the 2012 senior class and what they gave to your program? 

"I am extremely grateful for these guys and their hard work over the course of their careers.  It has been an absolute privilege to work with these guys, and go to battle with them over the last 3 years (2 years for Hansen). I was blessed to inherit players of tremendous character and work ethic, and I will certainly miss them next year."

Summer leagues seemingly help players further develop. To your knowledge, what Crusaders will be involved with summer ball? 

"Many of the players will be playing summer ball, and this is something that Coach Myers and I have greatly stressed. We also stressed that for those who are not playing summer ball, they are putting themselves at a huge disadvantage for next year, with not only their current teammates playing summer ball, but most of the incoming players are playing summer ball as well. A few current players will be playing in the Dallas Amateur Baseball Association (DABA), the Texas Showcase League, one in the Horizon Summer Series in California, one in Michigan, and Cronin and Bossert will be playing the Texas Collegiate League, among other leagues."

Looking ahead to 2013, what players could have breakout seasons? 

"I really think any of our returning players could have breakout seasons next year, not to mention the incoming freshmen and transfers. It will come down to who stays focused and dedicated over the break, and comes back in shape and ready to win."

Anything else you would like to add, Coach? 

"Yes, two things: first, I am very excited to have Coach Joe Myers on staff full time moving into next year. What he brings to the table as a coach will only continue to improve this program, and I am grateful for his passion and dedication. Second, I'd just like to thank, once again, all of the boosters, donors, alumni and parents for their strong and continued support of the program, financially and otherwise. We could not do it without you all, and I am very grateful."