FARMVILLE, Va. - Longwood University sophomore baseball second baseman C.J. Roth/Yorktown has been named the Longwood Male
ARMS Software Athlete of the Week. He started all three Big South games played last week at VMI, hitting .417 (5-12) with one RBI and three runs. He was 2-3 with a run in the series opener, 1-4 with a run and a sacrifice bunt in the middle game and 2-5 with an RBI and a run in the series finale, while helping the Lancers to a pair of wins against the Keydets. On the season, Roth has started 34 of 36 games and is batting .267 (fifth on the team) with one triple (second on team), two doubles (seventh on team), 10 RBI (eighth on team), 17 runs (fourth on team) and 10 walks (sixth on team).
Question and Answer Session with CJ Roth and Steven Sommer SS: Congratulations on earning Athlete of the Week. What does the honor mean to you?CR: It means a lot to me because I’ve struggled a bit in the past few weeks, so I’m glad I’ve been able to help my team out and get back to winning.
SS: You had a great weekend hitting .416 and scoring three runs in the three game sweep of VMI. Walk us through your performance.CR: It was really just finding a pitch I could drive and finding something useful to do at every at-bat. Whether it was moving a guy over with a bunt, driving in a run with a base hit, getting a walk, or having a long at bat, it was really just about whatever I could do to benefit the team last weekend.
SS: Going into these important games against NCCU and conference opponent Presbyterian, what is your mindset moving forward? CR: The mindset is just to take everything one game at a time and really focus on winning. It’s all about working our way to the tournament.
SS: Speaking of goals, what are some individual and team goals you have moving forward?CR: Individually, it’s really just doing everything in my power to help the team win. We need to win, and we need to keep winning. The team goal remains the same, compete day in and day out, make the tournament, and win it.
SS: You and teammate Kyri Washington both graduated from Grafton High School. What’s it like continuing to play with him, having known him for some time now?CR: It’s been a really interesting experience. Kyri and I were actually roommates last year, so we spent a lot of time together. It’s a really cool experience because I get to say I stayed with the guys that I’ve been playing with for a long time, and it’s allowed me to build a really strong friendship with them. More than anything, it’s fun.
SS: With 16 games left in the regular season, you are one RBI away from matching last year’s total. How have you changed your approach to preparing for the season from last year?CR: Coming into the season, I focused on having better at-bats, looking to strikeout less and putting the ball in play more. That was the biggest change I made, and it’s starting to translate into better better results on the stat sheet.
SS: As a sophomore, who would you say has been your biggest influence on the team?CR: Matt Dickason. I play up the middle with him just about every day, and I learn something new from him every day. He’s been a great friend over the past two years and has taught me a lot about the game, along with how to cope with the ups and downs of a long season.
SS: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?CR: The only real superstitions I have is that if we start doing well or go on a hit streak, I don’t change what I’m doing. As far as pregame, I just try and have a good time with the guys and enjoy myself before we get under way.
SS: Last night, you were commended by Longwood’s secret organization CHI for your work on the field and with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. How does it feel to be given that recognition?CR: It was a really cool experience. It was my first CHI burning, which was awesome, and to be recognized by such a prestigious organization on campus for the work I’ve done was truly an honor. Definitely the highlight of my Longwood experience so far.
SS: Who is your funniest teammate?CR: It’s a tough one because we’ve got some funny guys on the team, but I have to give it to Cory Ramsey. No matter the situation, he’s going to find a way to laugh about it. I don’t think there’s a day I go without laughing at Cory because he’s such a fun and easy guy to be around.
