What's next for Troy baseball after elimination from Tuscaloosa Regional in NCAA Tournament?
TUSCALOOSA − The Troy baseball season is over after a 1-2 showing at the Tuscaloosa Regional in the NCAA Tournament.
There was a lot to celebrate this year for the Trojans, highlighted by the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018, and a continuation of a streak of four straight tournament-opening wins. In the second season under Skylar Meade, Troy has earned the respect of its peers.
"I don't know if anyone works harder than (Meade). When you see someone doing a really good job, I was talking to him, that's an unbelievable job with this club with how scary their lineup. I knew I had a ton of respect already," Boston College coach Mike Gambino said. "He's two years into being a head coach, and I just said you're doing an unbelievable job from what I see."
THE LOSS: Troy baseball season ends with loss to Boston College in Tuscaloosa Regional
Troy beat Boston College on Friday and matched up with the SEC's Alabama on Saturday, almost escaping with the win before a disastrous ninth inning gave Alabama the edge. On Sunday, the Trojans were right behind Boston College before the Eagles closed strong with a big eighth inning.
The 2024 roster won't look the exact same thanks to graduation and the transfer portal, and the schedule still needs to be sorted out. The team is in a position to return seven starters from its Sunday batting order, along with pitcher Grayson Stewart.
Meade wants to see his team keep moving in the current direction.
"We're a rocket ship that's going fast, so people just got to grab on," he said. "We're going to keep recruiting hard, we're going to develop our players. We have complete buy-in from our administration, from everyone that's in our program. ... It's not really going to change what we are doing. We're pushing fast, we as coaches have zero patience. This is what we expect to do."
Stewart worked his way from a relief pitcher to a fringe starter to the undisputed ace of the Trojans squad. He started two games in the Tuscaloosa Regional but still is hungry to improve this offseason.
"Just sharpen everything, just work hard, put the work in, get better stuff. That's something you can do in the offseason," Stewart said. "... Just put myself in a good position to have another successful season next year, and hopefully have a successful season as a team as well."
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What's next for Troy baseball after return to NCAA Tournament?
