A little time to think...

We have just under a week until our next game so as we sit here 2-5 we have time to think about the young year so far. There has been a ton of distractions, most of which we had no control over. But seven games into the season we are headed in the right direction focused and determined at the task at hand. Here are some observations:

• Within a span of 5 days we lost both our starting SS (Matthew Cornwell) and our backup SS (Theo Stathakis). Andrew Llano who had been working mainly in left field has done a great job filling in. We hope to get Theo back in a few weeks after successful surgery on his wrist.
• We have lost several family members over the course of three months: JJ Rizzo lost his grandfather in December, Andrew Lofholm lost his grandmother three weeks ago and I lost my grandmother last week. Are deepest condolences go out to the Rizzo's and Lofholm's.
• We have been starting 6 sophomores and 3 freshmen on any given night. Of course there are going to be growing pains! Unfortunately the highs are really high and the lows are really low. One of the toughest things to do as a 19 year old in college is to stay at an even keel. We must learn to push the momentum of the highs and minimize the effects of the lows.
• Is it me or has every line drive we have hit so far gone right at someone? That's baseball, if you keep working those line drives will find some holes.
• I just want to give a quick shout out to the OU Baseball Alums! I know some of you new players/parents haven't met them, yet. But they are true Petrels with black and gold blood running through their veins. They have been in the same shoes as the current guys and to a man they will tell you that their time on the baseball field together is priceless. The tarp duties, the travel, the "Conference Specials" and everything in between. What we try to impress upon the current guys is how lucky they are to be playing college baseball! The worst day on Anderson Field is still better than the best day in a lot of places.
• Quick rundown of the SCAC East so far: Rhodes after a tough 0-3 start is now 3-3. They play Piedmont and Maryville this weekend. Every D3 Baseball source is picking them to make the college World Series. Birmingham-Southern is 3-3 and I think they are very talented, young but talented. Centre, DePauw and Sewanee begin play this weekend.