2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball team experiences early success
Ali Carlson
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Sports
Trying to prepare the field after an excess of 50 inches of snow fell during the winter months has been difficult for the Kirkwood Community College baseball team.
Since tryouts on the first day of school, the 30 team members have worked toward making it to the national tournament.
"The biggest change from last year is the weather that we have experienced," said Coach John Lewis. The baseball team was not able to practice outside prior to the first game like they have in the past but came back from their games during break with an 8-2 record.
"During break it was good to get the players away from their routine of going to class and doing homework," stated Lewis. He said the focus of during their break was baseball and getting into the routing of playing baseball everyday.
"I got my first taste of action [over spring break]. It let me know what to expect and where I need to get if I want to be great," Pitcher Steven O'Neil said.
Lewis stated, "The guys are great to coach, they play together as a team and get along well." He added, "This year the focus of the team is to be consistent. During break the team lost some games that we should have but we want everything to become consistent."
This year's team leaders have been Travis Bennett and Darren Spicer who are listed as Pre Season All Americans. "We want them to come to the plate and get some hits and also show good leadership," said Lewis.
Since the start of the baseball season in August, Brandon Buelow has improved the most on his game, according to Lewis. "He started out in August injured and has improved and work hard since them," said Lewis. "The pitchers at this point are the strongest part of the team but each person has a part."
The biggest competition that the Kirkwood baseball team will face this year is Iowa Central, who they will play on the April 5-6. In past years it has always come between Kirkwood and Iowa Central at the end of the year to see who can make Nationals.
"This year we want to make it to nationals while meeting both our team and individual goals and playing as a team," said Lewis. "The overall goal that I have is for each of them to succeed academically and move on to a four year school and play baseball."
The goals that the players have are similar.
"The last two years Kirkwood hasn't done much in the playoffs, so we're emphasizing getting better everyday leading up to the World Series," O'Neil said. "Nobody can stop us but ourselves."
Since tryouts on the first day of school, the 30 team members have worked toward making it to the national tournament.
"The biggest change from last year is the weather that we have experienced," said Coach John Lewis. The baseball team was not able to practice outside prior to the first game like they have in the past but came back from their games during break with an 8-2 record.
"During break it was good to get the players away from their routine of going to class and doing homework," stated Lewis. He said the focus of during their break was baseball and getting into the routing of playing baseball everyday.
"I got my first taste of action [over spring break]. It let me know what to expect and where I need to get if I want to be great," Pitcher Steven O'Neil said.
Lewis stated, "The guys are great to coach, they play together as a team and get along well." He added, "This year the focus of the team is to be consistent. During break the team lost some games that we should have but we want everything to become consistent."
This year's team leaders have been Travis Bennett and Darren Spicer who are listed as Pre Season All Americans. "We want them to come to the plate and get some hits and also show good leadership," said Lewis.
Since the start of the baseball season in August, Brandon Buelow has improved the most on his game, according to Lewis. "He started out in August injured and has improved and work hard since them," said Lewis. "The pitchers at this point are the strongest part of the team but each person has a part."
The biggest competition that the Kirkwood baseball team will face this year is Iowa Central, who they will play on the April 5-6. In past years it has always come between Kirkwood and Iowa Central at the end of the year to see who can make Nationals.
"This year we want to make it to nationals while meeting both our team and individual goals and playing as a team," said Lewis. "The overall goal that I have is for each of them to succeed academically and move on to a four year school and play baseball."
The goals that the players have are similar.
"The last two years Kirkwood hasn't done much in the playoffs, so we're emphasizing getting better everyday leading up to the World Series," O'Neil said. "Nobody can stop us but ourselves."
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