King of the diamond

Throughout his last two seasons playing for the UB baseball team, James Kingsley has been crowned as one of the most dominant players featured in the Bulls' lineup.

This season, the first baseman is batting .297 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs. Kingsley currently leads the team in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage, only building on his breakout season in 2004, which featured an 18-game hitting streak and a .332 batting average.

Kingsley has developed into an offensive powerhouse, but this was not always the case for the junior from Medina. Kingsley's first two seasons at UB did not unfold as he had envisioned. Kingsley was red-shirted as a freshman and though he showed promise as a sophomore - earning the team's Top Newcomer Award - Kingsley didn't live up to his full potential until last season.

Kingsley remembers his tough freshman season when he was not on the field, and credits that season with making him a stronger player.

"It was real tough (sitting out freshman year), obviously everyone wants to come and get right into the games," Kingsley said.

Though he did not like the idea of sitting out a year and watching his team play without him, Kingsley is able to acknowledge that he may not have been ready to be a Division I player upon arriving at UB.

"I guess I was pretty realistic, I realized I wasn't ready to get in there. It's done me a lot of good, to catch up from when I was a freshman as far as strength, and just the ability to play," Kingsley said.

In high school, Kingsley was a three-sport star, excelling at basketball, baseball and football. Kingsley owns the records for home runs, batting average, and RBIs at nearby Medina High school. He also holds the record for most points in a basketball game, once pouring in 45.

Kingsley credits his parents, especially his father, for helping him become the athlete that he is today.

"Both my parents went to every game. My dad always helped me with football, basketball and baseball. We were always out in the yard playing together," said Kingsley.

Though he was a three-sport star in high school, he always stood out in baseball. Once during his high school career, Kingsley hit four home runs in a single game, a feat he recalls as his greatest athletic moment.

The Bulls' first baseman finds that when he watches professional baseball on television, he gravitates towards one of the most debated-about teams in all of sports: the Yankees.

"I don't know if I'd say I model my game after him, but I really love to watch Derek Jeter. He's my favorite baseball player," said Kingsley.

In addition to Jeter, Kingsley is a big admirer of the Yankees' new ace, Randy Johnson. Though Kingsley doesn't call Johnson his favorite player, Kingsley admits that he is intimidated by the velocity of Johnson's fastball.

"Randy Johnson throws like 100 mph," Kingsley said. "I don't want to deal with that."

With all of the controversy regarding steroids in Major League Baseball, Kingsley said he does not feel that it is a widespread issue at the collegiate level.

"I think it's (in the college level), but we don't have everyone going out and hitting 60 home runs (in a season)," said Kingsley.

After being swept over the weekend by the Ohio Bobcats, the Bulls return home to face St. Bonaventure in a double header this afternoon.