鈥淢y first three years were about changing the culture and getting the team to believe that we could win,鈥� said Coach . 鈥淭his is no longer a rebuilding year. Now that our guys know that we can get to the tournament, it鈥檚 time to take that next step and compete in the tournament.鈥�

The Royals have had a hot start to their season going 5-1 and Griffin has been a huge contributor. In the men鈥檚 doubleheader against Juniata, Stanley did his job by triggering EMU鈥檚 21-3 blowout by batting 3-5 with three runs and two stolen bases. For the week, Stanley hit .368 with four walks.

Last season, the outfielder had a total of six stolen bases; early this year, Stanley is second in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) with four stolen bases and fourth with nine runs.

Being a part of Spotts鈥� first recruiting class, the 5-10 junior has some experience under his belt. For the first at-bat of every home game, 鈥淜ashmir鈥� by Led Zeppelin plays through the speakers, which is not a typical song at a baseball game.

鈥淚鈥檓 a 70’s and 80鈥檚 rock music kind of guy,鈥� Stanley admits. 鈥淪ophomore year I used to get a little nervous to bat, but after the first game this year, it was smooth sailing and this song calms me down.鈥�

So as the Led Zeppelin fan walks up to home plate, his veteran experience keeps him cool, calm and collected.聽 His only focus?聽 Get on a base.

鈥淗e runs so well,鈥� Spotts explains as to why he chose Stanley to be his lead batter for the past two years. 聽鈥淗e鈥檚 the fastest guy on our team.聽 He puts the ball into play, doesn鈥檛 strike out often, can bunt and steals bases well.聽 He proved himself sophomore year.鈥�

Stanley brings a consistency to his team not only by his continuous high level of effort day in and day out, or his coachable nature, but also with his easy going personality.聽 His coach even referred to him as 鈥渜uiet鈥� at times.聽 But just for the record, the major says differently.

鈥淚n the classroom I am kind of quiet, but outside of class I come out a little bit.聽 I have a wild side,鈥� joked Stanley.

When it comes to Stanley鈥檚 personality, the two may not always be on the same page, but one thing that Stanley and Coach Spotts can surely agree upon is that the expectations this year have increased.

鈥淭his season my job is to build off last season,鈥� Stanley said. 鈥淭here is a bunch of stuff I can improve on, which I need to do to help the team in any way possible. As a team, I want us to win some games, make the tournament and compete for an ODAC championship.鈥�

Although the season is still young, the mindset of this growing team is maturing.聽 For a team to succeed it takes every single player on the team to buy into that idea. With Stanley鈥檚 hard work and consistency on and off the field the Royals have a great chance of making back-to-back trips to the ODAC Tournament.

鈥淕riffin is very focused when it comes time to practice and play games.聽 He consistently works hard and is always trying to get better,鈥� said Spotts. 鈥淚 have never felt like he didn鈥檛 bring his all to a game or practice.聽 This year his role is the same as last year, just this year we expect more from him.鈥�

Maybe it鈥檚 time to turn the volume up a notch on that Led Zeppelin.

EMU 23, Mount Saint Vincent 10
The Royals scored three runs in their first at-bat, but broke open a tie game in the bottom of the second.聽 With two outs and just a runner on third, EMU took off.聽 (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) brought in three runs with a bases loaded single, and (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) roped a two-run triple.聽 Seven runs scored as the men jumped in front, 10-3.

The Royals scored twice in the third, and four more times in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double from (Miami, Fla./Doral).

The men led 16-8 in the bottom of the sixth when to landed another seven-run frame.聽 (Roanoke, Va./Cave Springs) had his own two-run triple, and (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) hit a pinch-hit two-run single.

Although the game featured a combined 13 errors, Eastern Mennonite had 21 hits to go with seven walks.聽 Mathews finished 3-3 with four RBIs while Estrada was 2-3 with three RBIs, two walks and two runs.聽 (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) had three hits, scoring twice and knocking in two more.聽 Hedrick finished with four RBIs and two runs, while (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford) scored three times.

(Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) pitched five innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits to get his first win of the season.

EMU 8, Mount Saint Vincent 4 鈥� 6 innings
While the nightcap never got flowing the way the first game did, the Royals took full advantage of CMSV’s three errors, as half of their runs were unearned.

The Dolphins led 1-0 when EMU took over in the bottom of the second.聽 Four runs scored, highlighted by ‘s (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) two-run single.聽 The visitors plated another single run in the third, but the Royals jumped the lead to 7-2 with three unearned runs in the bottom of the frame.

The final two innings were filled with tension, but little scoring, as EMU turned a double play to end the game after the top of the sixth on account of darkness.

Posey had four of the men’s 10 hits, going a perfect 4-4.聽 McAlister had two RBIs while Estrada reached base twice on walks.聽 (Rustburg, Va./Rustburg) singled in his only official at-bat, adding a walk, run and RBI to his totals.

(Front Royal, Va./Warren County) improved to 1-0 by scattering six hits over 5.0 innings.聽 (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) threw a scoreless sixth.

After sweeping all five games of their home-opening weekend, the Royals (6-1) are set to host Penn State-Harrisburg on Thursday.聽 EMU then welcome Emory & Henry on Saturday for their ODAC opener.