<p>Thursday, June 5</p>
<p>Once again, it is with extreme excitement and anticipation that I write to each of you. Yes, our season has ended (I will get to that in a moment) and yes the 2009 campaign seems like light years away. However, your Holy Cross Crusaders are already itching to get next season underway. We have placed upwards of 16 returning players in NCAA sanctioned summer leagues throughout the country, far exceeding numbers of the past. It will be great for all of our guys to get the experience of meeting other athletes and playing baseball EVERYDAY! </p>
<p>This was certainly a year of firsts. Not just for myself as the new head coach of Holy Cross Baseball but for the entire program. We set out to do something astounding and remarkable, and I truly believe that we accomplished that feat. Throughout this season, the bar was constantly raised to new heights, and your Crusader ball club responded each step of the way. From our first Patriot League tournament appearance since 2001 and our first Patriot League tournament victory ever, to our first 20+ win season since 1980 and our first Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Award, this was undoubtedly a season that I will look back on with admiration for every player who wore the HC this year. </p>
<p>Some may argue that the season was a bit of a disappointment in the end. I cannot disagree with that statement. We were on the cusp of doing the unthinkable, and as stated earlier, when you achieve the goals you have set forth, you must constantly reassess them and aim even higher. Our goal at the outset of this season was to flat out compete. Compete in every game that we played, compete in every practice session that was designed and begin to change our expectations for Holy Cross Baseball. We accomplished each of those goals. We wanted to taste what the post-season had to offer, and we did that. Unfortunately, we seemed to be a play or two away from hosting the Championship at home vs. eventual champion Bucknell, but I will tell each of you what I told our club Expect to win! Expect to win more games next year, expect to compete in the Patriot League tournament again, and expect to play in a Regional.</p>
<p>I want to thank all of our alumni, parents, and friends for supporting our team throughout this season. Not only did our team buy into what the new coaching staff was selling but so did each of you. For the 29 players on our team, I owe each of you a tremendous amount of gratitude for the way in which you carried yourselves as students, as athletes, and as representatives of Holy Cross. They all worked extremely hard and committed themselves to the unknown. There is only one first team that I will ever be a head coach for, and I could not have wanted it to be any other group of individuals. I am extremely happy to be a part of this school and this program, and I am extremely excited about where we have been and where we are going. </p>
<p>Please continue to stay in touch throughout the summer months and keep your eyes open for any future Crusaders in your area. I look forward to seeing all of you back on campus in the fall as we will continue with the HC Baseball Alumni Game tradition tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. Holy Cross Football plays at Harvard the night before on Friday so I realize many of you may be heading into Cambridge for the game. This presents a great opportunity to spend the weekend supporting the Crusaders. Thanks again for your loyal support of Holy Cross Baseball and lets continue to raise our expectations! </p>
<p>Sincerely,
Coach D</p>