If consistency is the key to winning a championship, the men’s baseball team may be in a load of trouble.The Spartans have put themselves on a roller coaster ride thus far, dropping three of their first four games, then turning it around and winning three out of the next five.

“The weather has made it difficult for us to get in a groove,” said assistant coach Bob Godlewski.

Godlewski, who served for a time as associate scout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, said that this squad has great potential.

“This is a very good, but young team, however we have to pray for good weather so our pitchers can get work in,” said Godlewski.

Currently the Spartans are 8-7 overall and 2-0 in conference. There is no question the Spartans have faced an up-hill battle by not being able to play any home game or get any outsides practices, due to the weather.

“I strongly feel we can compete for a conference championship,” Godlewski said.

Head Coach Ted Shipley has not won a North Atlantic Conference championship in either basketball or baseball since being hired in 2001.

Shipley’s squad was footsteps away in 2004, before getting thumped by Thomas College in the NAC championship, giving up 29 runs in two games.

“Talent-wise we are the top three in the conference,” said sophomore pitcher Rob Turner.

Turner, who has been more then frustrated with the weather and not be able to practice on dirt, feels that the true test will come against St. Joes College in Maine. The Spartans will head to Maine on April 29 to face what he believes is one of the powerhouses in the NAC.

“After St. Joe’s we will really see where we are at as a team,” said Turner.

The Spartans have won their last three games, and most likely would have made it four if they had played a much weaker Vermont Technical College on April 4. The game was not played because of poor field conditions.

The Spartan’s next home game is not scheduled until April 17 when they host Norwich University. All the snow has melted off the field but with more in the forecast for Thursday, nothing is a guaranteed.

“A championship would get us an automatic bid to the regionals . That’s my goal,” said Gowlewski.