Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls’ Pitchers in the Midst of Inaugural KC Cup
11/1/2021 1:31:00 PM | Baseball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team has implemented a new fall competition this season. The Owls' pitching staff is currently taking part in the inaugural KC Cup, which features on- and off-the-field competitions to gain (and sometimes lose) points between the two teams.
The staff was divided up into two teams as the fall preseason began, with many competitions in the books and much more to come. On-field things such as strike percentage are tabulated, and non-baseball events such as knowing your teammates' names, a spelling bee, and a soccer shootout have already occurred. Demerits can come off the team total because of such things as a messy locker or being late to practice or an event.
"As a pitching staff, we are using the KC Cup to create an environment around competition and accountability," said first-year pitching coach Brady Kirkpatrick. "Everything that that we do on and off the field will have an impact on each individual score and the team score."
The competition is named in honor of the longest-tenured and winningest head coach in program history, Kevin Cooney, who led the team from 1988 to 2008, amassing a 740-480-5 record. He is also the only person in FAU baseball history to have his number retired.
"Coach Cooney is a wonderful man and a fantastic coach," said head coach John McCormack, who has Cooney's assistant beginning in 1991 until he took over the program ahead of the 2009 season. "He cherished the ability for the players to compete in all aspects of life. This competition amongst the pitchers is a true embodiment of Coach."
"Having success on the mound goes far beyond throwing a baseball – it encompasses small details on and off the field – while having the competitive drive to be the best in everything we do," added Kirkpatrick.
Here are the two teams competing in this first version of the KC Cup. At last update, "Team 1" has a sizeable advantage, but there is plenty of time for their opposition to catch up.
Stay tuned to see the final results from the KC Cup, coming soon.
The staff was divided up into two teams as the fall preseason began, with many competitions in the books and much more to come. On-field things such as strike percentage are tabulated, and non-baseball events such as knowing your teammates' names, a spelling bee, and a soccer shootout have already occurred. Demerits can come off the team total because of such things as a messy locker or being late to practice or an event.
"As a pitching staff, we are using the KC Cup to create an environment around competition and accountability," said first-year pitching coach Brady Kirkpatrick. "Everything that that we do on and off the field will have an impact on each individual score and the team score."
The competition is named in honor of the longest-tenured and winningest head coach in program history, Kevin Cooney, who led the team from 1988 to 2008, amassing a 740-480-5 record. He is also the only person in FAU baseball history to have his number retired.
"Coach Cooney is a wonderful man and a fantastic coach," said head coach John McCormack, who has Cooney's assistant beginning in 1991 until he took over the program ahead of the 2009 season. "He cherished the ability for the players to compete in all aspects of life. This competition amongst the pitchers is a true embodiment of Coach."
"Having success on the mound goes far beyond throwing a baseball – it encompasses small details on and off the field – while having the competitive drive to be the best in everything we do," added Kirkpatrick.
Here are the two teams competing in this first version of the KC Cup. At last update, "Team 1" has a sizeable advantage, but there is plenty of time for their opposition to catch up.
| Team 1 | Team 2 |
| Bryce Braxton | Dawson Ball |
| Hunter Cooley | Bryan Boully |
| Nicholas Del Prado | Tyler Burnham |
| Sam Drumheller | Marc DeGusipe |
| Jacob Josey | Brock Helverson |
| Tyler Rapf | Max Martzolf |
| Tibur Rivero | Braden Ostrander |
| Jackson Spiller | Dante Visconti |
| Evan Waterbor | Robert Wegielnik |
Stay tuned to see the final results from the KC Cup, coming soon.
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