What began with a limited 3-game schedule and a 2-1 record for Fenn College in 1932 will end on May 21 at Avon's All Pro Freight Stadium when the Cleveland State baseball team concludes the 2011 season.
The Viking baseball program which produced former Cleveland Indian infielder and Cleveland native Jerry Dybzinski and at one time was coached by former Major League player Garry Roggenburk has become victim to budget cuts by the Cleveland State University athletic department.
"I am sad to announce that Cleveland State's baseball program will end at the conclusion of this season," said Cleveland State University Athletic Director John Parry, in a prepared statement to the Cleveland State University community.
"While the team has a long and proud history, the cost of maintaining baseball in Northeast Ohio has become increasingly prohibitive, particularly as pending budget cuts force the University to make some very difficult decisions," added Parry.
While there are four seniors on the current Cleveland State team that entered the week with a 9-32 record, there are 24 others who will have college eligibility remaining after the 2011 season.
"Existing baseball scholarships will be honored throughout their terms and players will be allowed to transfer to other schools without penalty. But it's important to note that this decision will not affect CSU's classificaton as a Division I school, nor will it affect our membership in the Horizon League," continued Parry.
Ironically, the 2011 CSU baseball media guide previewed the current season with the theme, "The Time is Now." for the Vikings under fifth year head coach Kevin Kocks.
The dropping of the baseball program comes at a time when the Vikings other men's spring sports are enjoying great success. The month of April found the men's tennis team win its fourth consecutive Horizon League title while the CSU men's golf team claimed its fourth league crown in the last six seasons.
Part of the financial problem for the Vikings baseball program is not having a campus facility and having its games played 20 miles west of the school in Avon, Ohio. Plans for an on-campus field were scrapped due to a lack of private funding to help build the facility.
Senior Day, which is May 21 when the Vikings host Rider at All Pro Freight Stadium, will now be a good-bye party for the entire program and an end to a part of Cleveland State since 1964 and part of Fenn College from 1932-35 and 1947-63.
The team was coached for much of its Fenn College existance by Homer Woodling and ended its days as Fenn College and began its Cleveland State history under Jim Rodriguez, who coached the school under both names from 1962-71.
Woodling coached the first team in 1932 that included Gus Soldathos, who still lives in Rocky River. Woodling continued as coach in 1933, stepped aside as Ted Okonski coached in 1934 but returned to the dugout for Fenn College in 1935. Woodling, who had a long tenure as the school's athletic director, again was head baseball coach from 1952-59. Fenn College did not field a team from 1936-46.
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