Weeks 6-7 First Start

These past two weeks of baseball have been really exciting for me and my family.  On Thursday, March 11, 2010 Trinity University played DeSales University.  I got my first start of the season.  Nervous at first I just let my baseball instincts take over and I played very well.  My first hit of my college career was a double to center.  I went on to collect three more hits and finished the day 4-5 with 5 RBI's (runs batted in).  Little did I know that this first start and the way I played would lead to two more starts over Spring Break.  Over the weekend before Spring Break, we traveled as a team by bus to Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.  My parents traveled the eight hour trip to Millsaps College to see me for the first time since Winter Break.  Little to my knowledge or their knowledge I would be getting the start for the second game.  We ended up winning the game by a score of 10-7.  I started one more game over Spring Break.  All in all these past two weeks have been both exciting and beneficial.  I learned a lot and gained much experience.  Check back in two weeks and see how we do as we prepare to go play in the Conference Tournament in Millington, Tennessee at USA Stadium.

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Weeks 4-5 Getting Better

Every day at practice, after the bellies are filled with Aramark food us Freshman go out to practice earlier than most everyone else.  Upperclassman get more repetition of at bats and in the field, so we have to go out early and try to get as many reps as possible before practice.  This is very beneficial because I see improvements in my swing and defense.  Besides our practices being good our games have been even better.  We are now 8-2 on the season.  After defeating Brandeis, a University from the Boston area we traveled to Conway, Arkansas to play Hendrix.  Hendrix is the 2009 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions and looking good again.  Although their record does not show how good of a team they are, they have been playing well.  Currently all the Freshman that traveled for the road trip are sitting in a hotel room anxiously waiting for our game tomorrow.  Many emotions are running through my friends and me as it is our first real road game.  We played a couple road games, but they were very close to San Antonio.  Hopefully we can continue our winning ways and get two wins this weekend.  Go Trinity Tigers!

Weeks 3-4 Season is Under Way

Weeks three and four saw the first seven games of the season.  At the end of the fourth week our record is 6-1.  We are very happy as a squad and many of the freshman got solid playing time.  My good friends and teammates Jonathan Hall, Kevin Clements, and Kevin Francke all started in most of the games and contributed greatly.  In the first seven games we played Schreiner University, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, and Austin College.  We lost to Schreiner University one time and beat all the other teams.  I have not gotten to play quite yet, but that is expected especially when there is a junior catcher in front of me who might get drafted.  I am being very patient and trying to stay mentally focused so that when my number is called to go in and play then I will be ready.  Coach Scannell has been preaching to stay mentally focused.  Our whole team has done a great job preparing physically and if we prepare mentally as well then we cannot be beat.  Here is a website of the SCAC (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) if you want to follow along with how the other teams as well as Trinity University are doing this season.  They have up-to-date stats and standings of the 2010 Baseball season.

Week 2 Preperation for the Season

Week 2 of practice has been going well for our team and me.  As a Freshman I have noticed the hardships that one goes through when preparing for the season.  However, my teammates and I are starting to hit our stride.  This is a great thing because we are trying to have a very successful season.  Some of the hardships and trials I have been through consist of minor injuries and mental fatigue.  Coach says that you have to battle through those things and experiencing those trials and tribulations will make you stronger.  Coach also showed us a motivational clip from Will Smith.  It inspired us to be mentally tough and to never ever give up.  I will either die on the baseball field giving my best effort or the other team will quit playing before I ever give up.  One of our many goals is to be a team that never gives up.  With the season rapidly approaching I continue to mentally prepare myself.  I go through possible at bats against opposing pitchers.  I visualize our pitchers throwing me the ball.  If I visualize it now then it when it happens  in a game I'll be prepared and know what to do with the ball.  Check back next week as I will have played my first collegiate baseball game.   

Week 1 of Freshman Baseball

Week 1 of my freshman year of baseball at Trinity University was both fun and exciting.  With that being said I was also very nervous.  We practiced a little bit with the coaches in the fall, but this was the first week we had actual practice in preparation for our upcoming season beginning on February 6.  One may ask how did it go?  Well, I played well, but practices were very long.  They could range anywhere from 4 to 5 hours a day.  On the weekends they were even longer.  We began when the sun was rising in the east and we ended when the sun was setting in the west.  They were long days, but I reaped the rewards of a solid practice.  For these first few weeks we did what was called the “Big Cat Challenge”.  These were a set of events where the players would compete and try to be the best of the Trinity University baseball players.  Currently I am sitting near the top of the leader board in 10^th place.  With that being said anything could happen and a slip could send me right to the bottom.  I had a great week of baseball and look forward to the upcoming weeks of practice and games.  There are only a few weeks away until we begin playing games.  For more information on the Trinity University baseball program check out their website Trinity Athletics.  Go Tigers!