Baseball looks to capitalize on pre-season presumptions

The Scots baseball team recently began its 2016 season with a shutout against Sewanee and a surprise comeback win against nationally ranked Rhodes College (No. 11). In his second season of coaching, Cody Church has led the Scots to a No. 4 ranking in the USA South pre-season poll.

“Pre-season rankings are a reflection of what happened last season. I wouldn’t say that fourth is our goal by any means, but it is a good thing to go off of for the upcoming season,” said Church.

This year’s roster contains a wide variety of players, including over 10 new freshman and 11 seniors.

Those seniors have had quite an experience in four years on the Scots baseball team. One obvious major change has been the addition of a new head coach, Church.

Senior Seth Debity’s take on the changes is undoubtedly a positive one.

“The team seems to be pulling in the same direction for really the first time I’ve been here,” said Debity.

“When I got here the team did have chemistry, but too many members seemed to be doing their own thing without the team’s goals in mind. However, this began to change last year and already in this young season we’ve been more in unison than ever before. ”

With only three months left until graduation in May, Zack Blonder ponders a possible plan of action that will involve his continuing involvement with baseball.

“I hope to play baseball professionally for as long as I can if I get the opportunity, and after that I want to be a performance trainer and help young athletes better their skills and physicality,” said Blonder.

Athletics at Maryville College are unique for a Division III school. They have the intensity and dedication of a Division I or II school, while still putting academics first.

STEM student and baseball player Evan Ezell discussed the challenges of being a part of a premier athletic program while still maintaining the grades needed to thrive in a STEM field.

“The biggest thing is the work ethic that must be present to succeed in a STEM major,” said Ezell. “I have found being a mathematics and computer science major a very rewarding experience. For me, I have matured mentally and freed my mind into places I did not foresee prior to enrolling in a STEM major.”

The Scots (8-2) held their momentum over the weekend with a three-game sweep of MacMurray College, leaving the team with eight consecutive wins.

MC will host Emory & Henry Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 3:00 p.m.

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