IN A BAG – Freshman Nicholas Alcoser races to first, snagging the bag in a game against El Camino college, which the Jags lost, 8-6.
A dugout full of freshmen usually means a rebuilding year.
Unless the freshmen can play.
With only eight returning players on a roster of 37, the Jaguars face a tough road to repeat last season’s successes.
Sophomore pitcher Kyle Bedsole said the team has big cleats to fill.
“Last year we had a crazy staff,” he said. “We had four or five people throwing over 90 (mph). So it’s not that we have fewer pitchers, we just don’t have that crazy, ridiculous talent on the staff.”
Bedsole, who only gave up one run in his first 18 innings of preseason, said lower velocity does not mean lower expectations.
“It means we have to work a lot harder and want it in every single game,” he said. “We can’t go over there and expect our talent to just work out.”
The Jags are 4-3 in non-league play, with a team batting average of .311, 46 runs and one home run. Bedsole said muscle must replace magic.
“We’ve come together a lot more in the competition because we know we need each other to actually be good,” he said. “We don’t have any crazy ridiculous phenoms who can step onto the field and be magic gods who can carry the whole team by themselves. We have to play as a team in order to win and I think that’s what a lot of us realize.”
Jaguar returnees pledged to promote cohesion and a few leaders are beginning to take the helm. Returning outfielder Ray Peterson said cultivating team chemistry began in the fall. Preseason is bringing the team together even more.
“With the team being so young we have to start playing together a little more and let them know that things are a bit higher than high school,” said Peterson.
Freshman infielder Luke Ramirez said the players have bonded well.
“We have a real close knit group,” he said. “We’re all very well acquainted with each other. I think we have a lot of great leaders on this team, although they’re not specifically labeled captains.”
SWC’s Fantastic Four leave an impression on and off the field. Bedsole’s control of the mound for seven solid innings and dignified exit. Third baseman Cody Simmons shaking hands with the freshmen defenders as they return to the dugout every inning.
“It’s one thing to yell and scream at the younger guys to focus more,” said Ramirez, “but when you see a veteran guy literally going 110 percent no matter what he’s doing, for me, that’s the biggest example of leadership. I think guys like Cody Simmons and Steven Sherwood have done a good job influencing me as far as what I need to do to contribute to the team like they do.”
Ramirez said Bedsole was as much a cheerleader as a pitcher. Head Coach Jay Martel said he is the kind of fast working ace the defense loves to play behind.
Bedsole said the sophomores take the responsibility of leadership seriously.
“There’s more of an emphasis on instilling the job,” said Bedsole of his fellow pitchers. “For us, we need to throw strikes and get outs. That’s the only way we’re going to win.”
Cultivating a pitching staff that can be mean on the mound may make or break this season, said Martel.
“Defensively we’re very strong,” he said. “We’ve got good team speed, but compared to what we’ve had in the past at SWC, I think our pitching is a little below average.”
Bedsole leads the staff with a 0.48 ERA over 18 innings.
“We’ve got some good arms,” said Martel. “We’ve got to develop, we’ve got to throw strikes, we’ve got to work faster. I think we’ve got to pitch with confidence. We’ve got to have a little fight.”
Peterson said if the Jaguars work hard and mind the fundamentals, they could challenge Orange Coast College for the championship.
“If we continue to get the job done at practice and continue to do the little things during the game, it should come together,” he said. “I’m not worried at all.”
