Micah davis
While our campus undergoes a methodical transformation, it’s only fitting that the Brahmas’ baseball team has followed suit.
Last year’s team saw four players drafted by Major League ball clubs: Dan Berlind (Minnesota Twins), David Fonseca (Milwaukee Brewers), Dan Heller (Baltimore Orioles) and Travis Turek (Cleveland Indians).
Though their arms and bats are missed, the experience gained from playing at the collegiate level is what this team lacks. 2008 is the year of the youth movement.
The Pierce College roster is comprised almost entirely of underclassmen. Of 29 total players, 19 are freshmen and nine are sophomores.
With youth comes a wealth of potential and inexperience. Potential is appealing, but does not necessarily translate into on-the-field production.
The Brahmas have struggled this year to post a record of 19 wins and 19 losses, dating back to Jan. 26. However, their shortcomings should be not be attributed to a lack of desire or talent, as this team plays hard and plays to win game after game.
“These guys are very resilient,” said head coach Joe Arnold. “Whatever happened the day before, they let it go…we just have to continue to improve on the little things.”
Those little things come in the form of rally-killing blunders on the bases and misplayed ground balls, allowing opponents a chance at big innings.
Fortunately, time and hard work should remedy such mistakes.
“I’m waiting for the light bulb to go off,” Arnold said.
The bulb has certainly flickered.
In a March 20 match up against the Wolverines of San Bernardino Valley College, the Brahmas fell behind 12 runs early in the game. It would have been easy to fold and call it a day, but the team battled back to make it interesting.
Four pitchers, three freshmen and one sophomore kept the normally loud San Bernardino bats quiet while the Brahmas chipped away at the large lead.
Though they eventually lost, 16-12, the fortitude displayed by such a young team was impressive. Overcoming errant throws and lapses in judgment on the field to turn a blowout into a nail-biter is the mark of a good club.
As the season winds down, fans can look forward to next year. Players are concentrating on finishing the year strong while coaches are tinkering with strategies.
Don’t write off the Brahmas. With a year under their belts, the 2008-09 team will be a force to reckoned with.
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