Baseball team ‘can move on, finally’

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Head baseball coach Todd Butler speaks at media day Friday. Butler said his team is ready to go as it travels to Sam Houston State to open the season this Friday.

Todd Butler’s sole focus is on baseball this season.

With the NCAA decision announced nearly two weeks ago, coach Butler, Wichita State’s head baseball coach, is ready to move on.

“I’m coaching now,” Butler said. “We’ve put that behind us. I definitely feel like [my energy is back on baseball.]”

Wichita State is still trying to appealing the NCAA’s verdict in regards to the vacation of wins and the vacation of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship in 2013.  

“I’m for the appeal, for the wins and the conference championship and for all the players and the coaches that have been here,” he said. “Our guys did the best they could. Tough circumstances.

“Our administration has done a fantastic job of preparing for the investigation — getting through it — and now we can move forward.”

The team’s first game is Friday against Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. The team should be ready to go, Butler said.

“They’re ready to play and they’re very eager,” he said. “Now, we need to do our part as a program and get back on that winning track and that Shocker spirit. Hopefully, as we win this season, we’ll start to pack this stadium and really get this atmosphere back, so I’m excited.”

It won’t be easy, though. WSU has a tough schedule this season, with games against Sam Houston State, Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara and TCU.

“Hopefully, you’ll start to see the character of our guys, the commitment of our players and hopefully our will to win as we start playing this competitive schedule in 2015,” Butler said. “A lot of these games are going to be on the road. We’re going to be road warriors with this team.”

The beginning of this season should be easier for WSU, considering players won’t start the season on suspension.

“It’s been one year and two months [since the investigation started],” he said. “I remember last year, first game, two hours before the game and not knowing who I could play. Getting through the investigations is really tough, and I thought we did a really great job, and our players, of handling it. You think about starting the season. Players were suspended, and so we worked through it.

“And hopefully, after today, it’ll be just baseball. Now, we can move on, finally.”