Eastern Connecticut State University

Victor R. Cruse was a hard-nosed point guard in basketball and a gifted centerfielder in baseball. The Hartford native Cruse excelled equally in both sports. A four-year basketball letterwinner, the 6-foot-1 inch Cruse played point guard on teams which won two New England State College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) divisional crowns and combined for a 64-31 overall mark in his final three seasons. A two-time all-conference selection and a team captain, Cruse led the club in assists and was named the team’s Best Defensive Player in each of his final two years. The team’s starting centerfielder in baseball batted second, third and fifth in the order in his three-year career, compiling a .313 career average in 53 games.