QUINTIN JAMES
Special to The Leader
As the baseball team prepares to travel to Florida for its annual Spring Training — and to compete in the Russ Matt Invitational next week — there are a lot of questions that still surround the team and plans going forward towards the season. With a new roster and new players and styles, the Blue Devils will look to make a run for the SUNYACs this year.
When asked about their goals for the trip and things they want to get out of this trip, Coach Palisin said “We have three conference games down south and 14 overall. We want to win those games, but mostly we want to try and find the right mix of players.”
Palisin also said he was going to play a lot of players during the back to back doubleheaders and basically wants to finalize the rosters so when they get back to Fredonia, he knows who’s playing.
Some players we should look out for before and after the Florida trip are the Sherman brothers, who will play a big part in the offense this season. Kyle, a junior who plays in the outfield, will bat leadoff, and senior brother Vinny, who also plays in the outfield, will bat in the five hole this year. Hitting will be an area the Blue Devils will have to improve on during the trip and the season. They have lots of depth at the pitcher position, but Palisin wants to find pitchers who could fill the 6th, 7th and 8th spots in the rotation/bullpen to round out the position.
The catching position is one of the most interesting position battles we have to date. With three players in the mix for the starting spot, with both top catches out for the foreseeable future, we will see some new blood competing for playing time. Right now, sophomore Mike Prentice will start but freshmen Mike Carmody and Patrick Sheehan are also playing well and looking to steal that spot come opening day.
This trip will be used to develop a lot of the younger players and transfers on the team. With a total of 14 games in Florida, the Blue Devils will use this time to observe a lot of the younger players, use different lineups and try new things to see what works for the season. Fourteen games is the most games in the preseason for any Division III team, so it’s a good practice to try out different tactics before the season.
When asked about the chemistry and the trip, Palisin responded, “Right now our chemistry is very high, and it’s a family feel within the locker room. It will only improve with 12 days together and a lot of bonding time and activities coming up. We have a team picnic and many activities on our off day, like mini golf.”
Some players who will get to shine during the trip are Quinn Danahy, who will get a lot of at bats during the trip. Coach said, “He’s a junior and had to wait his trip, but he’s the hardest worker on the team. Returning players senior Erik Krohl and junior Zach Jordon will also get a chance to play after they both missed last season with injuries.
The ultimate goal of this trip, according to Coach Palisin, isn’t about winning.
“I want them to win, but I also want them to understand how to win games. Baseball isn’t won by talent. It’s about working hard and playing the right way.”
The team looks forward to building more team chemistry and improving the team overall. The first game in Florida will be a double header against SUNY Canton and Ursinus on March 13.