Baseball Preview: Baseball team conditions for spring
When you win 41 out of 57 games, your division, a regional championship and rank 9th in the nation, you have a good season. “Expectations for this season are as follows: defend last year’s accomplishments and achieve new ones,” said Kent Shelley, head coach, Baseball. “We have one of the fastest teams in the nation, we can run.”
To compliment all of that speed is a stable of talented pitchers headlined by Brandon Droge, sophomore. Droge is a first team All-Conference selection and an honorable mention All-American. His upcoming season looks very promising. The pitching staff is followed up by Ryan Garman, sophomore, Nick Holtgrieve, sophomore and Scott Brady, sophomore. The offense is anchored by David Drahozal, sophomore 2nd basemen and Nate Thomas, sophomore DH.
Even with all that talent not everyone is convinced a National Championship is in the bag.
“I would say it is a toss-up for anyone at this level, a fast team does not mean a good team,” said Michelle Klement, student, Blue Valley.
Shelley acknowledged this team still has a few holes. With 23 new players coming in, cohesiveness will be an issue.
“Cohesiveness was a great strength for this team last year. With all the new players this season that level of cohesiveness won’t happen overnight. It takes some time,” said Shelley.
When asked how his version of a perfect season would end, Shelley answered the way you would expect a coach with 21 years of experience to. No records or stats, just short and sweet.
“My perfect season would end in Grand Junction, Colo. with a NJCAA National Championship.”
Contact Tyler Conover, staff reporter at tconover@jccc.edu