Stetson University Athletics

Stetson 2003 / 2nd Season

    Rusty Beale enters his second season as an assistant coach at Stetson University. He will work with the Hatter outfielders and infielders, while serving as first base coach
    Beale was a four-year starter at shortstop for the Hatters from 2000-2003.  He still holds the Stetson record for career assists (729) and games played (246), is sixth in career chances (1181) and is eighth in at bats (748). 
    Beale played professionally after the Cincinnati Reds drafted him in the 45th round in 2003.  He played shortstop and second base for the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League.
    After his playing career, Beale coached at Westside High School in Macon, Georgia and Tift County High School in Tifton, Georgia.  While at Stetson, Beale started nearly every game, only missing time after a hip injury chasing after a fly ball at UCF.  His stellar defensive career included a 19-game errorless streak as a freshman in 2000.
    At the plate, Beale put together a .319 batting average in 2001 with a career-best 12 stolen bases.  Over his four years, Beale batted .266 with 120 RBI, 132 runs and 28 stolen bases. 
    Beale saved his best games for the ones that meant the most.  In 2000, he had two hits in an NCAA Regional win over Auburn and went 3-3 with a homer in the Regionals against Bucknell in 2001.  He added a three-run double against South Florida in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.  He capped his career by making the All-Regional team as a senior in 2003. 
    Rusty's brother, Chuck, was a pitcher for Stetson and still holds the career record for wins (36).