The storm that has delayed or postponed athletic contests throughout the region has spoiled the Cougars' final homestand of the season. USF's four-game series with Winona State (22-12) has been canceled due to the rains of the past two days leaving the outfield at Harmodon Park unplayable this weekend.
USF ends the season at 10-29.
The Cougars ended the season with eight straight rainouts.
The rainout deprives three seniors of their final jumps across the foul line. First baseman Jimmy Maxwell finishes his two-year career with a .318/.428/.601 slash and 77 hits, 14 home runs, 25 doubles, 51 RBI and 44 runs scored. He ranks fifth all-time at USF with 14 home runs and a .601 career slugging percentage. His 14 keystone hits this season put him in second place on USF's single season 2B list. Maxwell is also second on USF's single season walk list (30, 2011) and fifth on the single season home run list (12, 2011).
Senior Poster: http://on.fb.me/Ku6AWN
COACH GUILIANO SPEAKS: "Jimmy is a guy that came into our program as a transfer who was supposed to be one of the biggest bats in our lineup and he has not disappointed. He has a great knowledge of the game and we are going to miss a guy like him at the plate; you can't just plug a guy into the lineup to hit 15 doubles, 5-10 home runs and be an RBI machine the way that Jimmy has been for our team. I hope that Jimmy gets his shot at some professional baseball and wish him the best with the rest of his baseball career."
Workhorse Brady Nolz turns in his Cougar jersey as USF's all-time leader in innings pitched (196.1). Nolz is also tied for first in career appearances (59) and third in strikeouts (139). A second-team all GPAC selection a year ago, Nolz posted a career-high nine strikeouts in the Cougars' 6-2 loss to Minot State (4/7/12).
Nolz Career Pitching Stats: 7-15/5.39 ERA/59 APP/27 GS/196.1 IP/139 SO
Senior Poster: http://on.fb.me/LgDqxl
COACH GUILIANO SPEAKS: "I have had the pleasure of coaching Brady his entire college career; he is a guy that just flat out competes and gets the job done. When all is said and done, he's going to hold a few school records- showing that he has been one of our go to guys throughout his career. Do not let his stature fool you, he was also one of the state's best wrestlers and can throw four pitches well for strikes. He's just a guy that comes to the park always ready to compete."
The ultimate team player, Brennden Ward arrived in Sioux Falls after serving as the backstop for Orange Coast College. He gave up the tools of ignorance as a junior and has spent the last two seasons seeing action in both right field and the designated hitter slot. After seeing limited action in 2011, Ward assumed a starting role this year and made the most of his senior campaign. He recorded 12 hits, 9 RBI and 8 base on balls in 26 games. Ward also posted his first-ever collegiate walk-off versus Minot State (4/6) when he laced a one-out two RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead USF to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Minot State. Ward was also clutch in the Cougars' 6-5 win versus rival Augustana College (4/21), going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
Senior Poster: http://on.fb.me/Ku7x1d
COACH GUILIANO SPEAKS: "Brennden came to us as a transfer to help us out in a dire need behind the plate and was able to hold us together... he probably has one of the best work ethics both on and off the field on our team and has been able to improve as a complete player because of it. He is definitely still going to be involved in the sport scene as he is striving to work as a sports psychologist and we all know he will be great at what he does in the future, who knows, I might even need to use him down the road!"
