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Volume CXXXII, Number 17 |
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Baseball swings its way into spring training
BOBBY DESAULNIERS
STAFF WRITER
Waking up at five o'clock in the morning is awful. It is even worse when you have to physically exert yourself. However, the Polar Bear baseball team has been doing it for a week, and every member of the team realizes that the cost of success is high and is willing to make the necessary sacrifices.
Coming off of a 16-18 season last year, the Bears know that the only way to reach for a truly competitive spot in the league is through hard work and dedication to the game. Having early practices works to create cohesion on the team. Obviously everyone would rather be in bed, but sharing in the kind of misery that translates into wins creates a sense of unity.
Such camaraderie makes up for the sleep deprivation and terrible sacrifices of social life. The Bears know that solidarity is necessary to pull out the games that go down to the wire.
Although the Bears lost a few very key players last year, including Scott Jamieson, Seth Paradis, and Rob Metzler, the youthful team will recover due to the depth of the underclassmen. With the loss of right-fielder Paradis and center-fielder Metzler, the outfield is wide open for competition this season. A host of players, such as Andrew "The Dad" Demarco '04, Ivan Lucuk '04, T.J. Macleod '04, and Chris Davidson '03, will make a bid for the three spots.
As for the pitching staff, the team took a big hit as a result of Jamieson's absence. He broke the Bowdoin career wins record last year and was the workhorse for the staff. However, the Bears have the luxury of depth in 2003. With pitchers like Captain Jared Porter '03, Andy Workman '04, Pat Donahue '04, and Drew Nichols '04, the staff will be able to make a statement against the premier bats of the league. Senior captain Scott Boruchow will return as Bowdoin's primary relief pitcher.
A key defensive strength for Bowdoin is their lineup of catchers. Behind the plate will be either the hard-hitting John Clifford '04 or Manny Lora '04, who is best known for demolishing existing stolen base records.
Most of the team has shifted since last year. The stability will come from the infield, as it returns every starter from a season ago. Prospects for the Polar Bear infield consists of Tom McMahon '05 at first base, Captain and First Team all-league stud Kevin Bougie '04 at second, Jimmy Shea '05 at short, and Justin "The Destroyer" King '04 at third. However, due to the depth of the junior and underclass, no position is secured.
Overall, the team is quite optimistic about the upcoming season. Infielder Justin King said "Last year, we lost some tough games in the final innings. We know what we have to do this year, and we know that we are capable. It's all about doing it when the game in on the line." Those necessary late-inning surges are products of realizing the gravity of every pitch, every cut-off man, and every swing at the plate.
Through the building of team chemistry, overall team confidence will rise. With two outs in the bottom of the last inning, down by two with runners on second and third against a pitcher whose undetectable curve ball starts behind your head and lands in the dirt, you need a guy at the plate who can swing the stick with confidence and vigor. The Bears will deliver such confidence this season.
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