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The 2001 season was bittersweet as the Mules finished their inaugural NESCAC season with a 6-6-conference record and an overall finish just shy of a winning season at 12-13. Colby finished the season winning six of seven games and capturing the outright CBB title by sweeping Bates and taking two of three games from the rival Polar Bears of Bowdoin. The Mules were playing their best baseball at the end of the season, giving the team high aspirations for next season.

The team's annual spring trip to Fort Myers, Fla., was very successful. Colby won five of seven games, including a dramatic come-from-behind win over league rival Middlebury and an upset over nationally ranked Upper Iowa. The trip ended in Hartford where Colby lost two games in extra innings to league runner-up Trinity.

Due to an unusually long winter, the next two weeks of the season were frustrating as the team was forced to play all games on the road and practice indoors. The result was several close losses to top ranked opponents, despite quality play.

With a tough schedule and numerous road games Colby narrowly missed the ECAC playoffs. Playing in one of the best baseball conferences in the East and playing a demanding non-conference schedule, Colby continues to make strides towards becoming one of the top programs in Eastern Division III. Offensively, the team was led by All-New England, All-NESCAC 2000, outfielder/pitcher Jon Lord'02, as well as senior captain, second baseman and team offensive MVP Andrew Tripp and senior DH-1B Lou DiStasi '01. Jay Johnson '03, Kevin Brunelle '03, and Eric Roy '04 all were a force offensively and return to anchor the team next season.

As first-year players, Brandon Irwin '04 and B.L. Lippert '04 made key contributions, as did veterans Matt Simard '02, Lucas Cummings '02, David Prinstein '02, and Jeff Owen '03.

The pitching staff was led by newcomer and team pitching MVP Brandon Royce '04. James Garrett '02, Dan Deacon '03, Kevin Presbrey '03, Owen Kenny '03, Matt Gibson '03, and Philip Geiger '04 all won games for the Mules and will return to give the team an experienced and deep pitching staff.

A number of talented returning players combined with a strong recruiting class should make the team a force to be reckoned with. The Mules hope to build off the successes of the 2001 season to propel them to a playoff run in 2002.

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