It is that time of year again when the baseball team gets together and has their first practice of the season.
On Jan. 15, the baseball team spent a few hours getting to know some of the new players. About ten new players have joined Central Oregon Community College’s baseball team, with five returning from previous years.
Devin Haney, Bobcats center fielder, said,“I feel the preseason is going to go really well. We got some new additions to the team. So it’s going to be about feeling how they fit in and what their roles will be.”
Matt Greenleaf, professor and baseball coach at COCC, is most excited for “the returners because we were so close last year we had a chance to win the conference.”
He is also pretty excited to see how well the team does against Oregon State this year. The Bobcats lost against Oregon State last year, which prevented them from going to Regionals.
COCC has developed a rivalry with OSU. “We took two (games) out of three from them last year so it is kind of a rivalry with us,” said Greenleaf.
Practices are held every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. If the weather permits, practices are held either out at Sky View Middle School or in Mazama Gym if the weather is too bad.
This year, the team is working on trying to get to the World Series for the Northern Pacific – West conference. This conference includes teams like Oregon State University, Seattle University, Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon and University of Washington. Last year, The Bobcats were one game from going to regionals.
With regionals in mind, the baseball team will be working hard to get there this year. If they make it to regionals this year, they have a shot at the World Series.
If any student at COCC is interested in joining the baseball team, Matt Greenleaf is still looking for some more players. Here is his contact info. Email: [email protected] Phone: 541-383-7763 ext. 7763.
Arron Haertle | The Broadside
(Contact: [email protected])