By Sam Ranard

The UK club baseball team, which is only four seasons old, won the National Club Baseball Association World Series for the second consecutive year on May 19.

After losing 3-2 to Loan Star College in the first round of the NCBA Division II World Series, the Cats clawed their way back to the title. The team won four straight games to defeat Coastal Carolina 3-2 in the final game of the series, which was played at Pullman Park in Butler, Penn.

First baseman Brian Hranicky was named MVP of the World Series. But after losing the first game of the tournament, Hranicky was unsure if the Cats could take home the title.

“I didn’t expect to win really, not at all,” he said. “I knew we were a good team, but had my doubts after that first game, but everyone pulled it together. It was amazing.”

Hranicky went 2-3 at the plate, with two RBIs in the championship game. For the entire World Series, Hranicky earned three runs, three doubles and 13 RBIs, all while batting .500.

Hranicky’s MVP honors did not come as a surprise.

“I knew I had a pretty good chance,” Hranicky said “When we won, I was too excited to realize I won it.”

A.J. Schreiver also supplemented the team’s offense throughout the season. Schreiver’s 17 stolen bases in the 2009 season led the league. Along with Hranicky, he batted an impressive .458.

But batting wasn’t the only factor that brought home the title for the Cats. Multiple pitchers made the leader boards throughout the season.

UK’s arsenal included Dean Sumpter, whose 1.29 ERA led the league, Brian Johnson, who was third in the nation for strikeouts, and Mike Berry, who lead the league with nine saves.

“I thought we really had great pitching and great hitting,” Berry said. “A lot of guys really stepped up. It’s awesome they put me back there to be a saver.”

The tournament consisted of eight teams who earned their spots by winning their division’s championship. Out of the eight divisions, UK was the District V champions.