It’s very difficult to write about baseball teams that discontinue their program but unfortunately that’s the nature of the beast.
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds will be cancelling their program before the move to the Big Sky Conference in 2012/2013 academic year.
According to a report by the NCAA, “the University's pending move to the Big Sky Conference, coupled with the need to redirect resources to add men's tennis, precipitated the decision to eliminate baseball, SUU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ken Beazer said”.
It should be mentioned that baseball is not a sponsored sport by the Big Sky Conference, but does require men’s tennis “as a core sport for the 2012-13 academic year.”
This is not the first team to lose its programs within recent years;
It’s not as if this is a stumbling first year program. The program which grew from its Junior College days has been in the NCAA since 1988. Despite never advancing past the Conference tournament, having above-average seasons for the past five years and having had 13 players drafted since 1974, a move to a new conference following the end of this season blows my mind.
Obviously higher powers are involved, and many factors, no doubt, went in to the decision, but for the moment the program is still alive. Let’s hope the Thunderbirds go out on a high note and give their fans something to remember.
Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective
Devon is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals& Gateway Grizzlies, and is now an independent scout.
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