Ana Barraza
BaseballAna Barraza1-1-1-1
Expectations are set high for the Pierce College baseball team as they prepare for their upcoming season.
The team, led by Bob Lofrano, Pierce’s new athletic director, ended the last season by losing to Riverside Community College in the first round of the playoffs. They were defeated in the third game of a three-game series of the Western State Conference, said Lofrano, who received the Coach of the Year Award for the WSC South Division, leading the Brahmas to a regular season division championship.
Their overall record for last season was 29-17.
Joe Arnold, a former Pierce baseball player, replaces Lofrano as the head coach this year. After 13 years of backing Lofrano as an assistant coach, Arnold takes the lead and is setting his standards high for the team.
“What I expect for my guys is that they give 100 percent. The wins and losses will take care of themselves, as long as they are committed to getting better everyday,” said Arnold.
Arnold named the top returning players.
The top returning pitchers are sophomores Cameron Collard, Nate Perlitsh and J.C. Urso.
The top returning position players are catcher Steve McGrath, third baseman Tyler Weed, Calvin Culver, who plays center field and second baseman Eric Bloom.
“We have a good team with a very talented pitching staff. Our head coach, Joe Arnold, is in his first year of being the head coach after being the third base and hitting coach for more than 10 years. We won conference last year and we expect to compete for it again,” said Bloom.
Four freshmen who Arnold expects to stand out this upcoming season are pitchers John Deggerman and John Bronberg, and right fielders Nick Devian and Jason Barmasse.
The team starts off the upcoming season on Jan. 25 at the Bakersfield College Tournament. They will play at Pierce on Jan. 31 in the WSC Tournament.
The first non-tournament game of the season will be at Pierce against Porterville College on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
For more information on the 2008 baseball season, visit the Pierce Athletics Web site.