The season for the baseball team officially starts during the spring semester. However, the Tigers work hard during the preseason.
They are allowed to play up to three scrimmage games in the fall. This year, the Tigers play two games.
Last Sunday they faced Texarkana. Tomorrow, the team plays Panola College at 2 p.m. at Rab Rodgers Field.
“These games allow us to see our guys in a real game setting and not just an intra-squad game,” said head coach Chris Moddelmog.
Senior Drew Wurzelbacher has an opinion similar to his coach’s.
“The games in the fall give us a chance to evaluate our team,” Wurzelbacher said. “We are able to see what we are doing well and what needs to be improved upon.”
According to Moddelmog, the pre-season is important for different reasons.
“The players and our staff are getting to know each other and again we are trying to get better daily,” Moddelmog said.
For the next season, the baseball team has high goals, focusing on the national tournament in May.
“We hope to be competitive day in and day out,” Moddelmog said. “We are trying to get better each day and play our best baseball in May.”
Last year the Tigers had an astonishing season, finishing runner-up at the national tournament. As one of the main contenders for the national title this season, the team will have to deal with the pressure of being one of the top teams among Division II programs.
“Every team we play knows what we did last year and they know what we are ranked,” Wurzelbacher said. “It is definitely extra motivation for those teams to play their best against us and try to put a loss on our record.”
Moddelmog thinks his team is ready to play under pressure.
“The guys made a great run last season and we will get every team’s best effort this spring,” Moddelmog said. “We just want to come out each day and play the game the right way and good things will happen to us again.”
He also believes that the experience of his team can make a difference next spring.
“We have great leadership from our seniors and they expect to win each day out,” Moddelmog said. “We play in the best league in Division II, and every weekend is a tough series. We strive to be a champion daily on and off the field.”
