2008 Woodie Awards
Owls Prepare for Upcoming Season, Expectations High
Nancy Sanchez
Issue date: 1/19/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Leather gloves, green grass, hard dirt and eager faces signal the start of baseball season.
With a new head coach, eight returnees, and 19 recruits, the Owl baseball team is preparing for the Western State Conference season, which opens Feb. 22.
The team has been working on the basics and trying out different positions to determine each player's strengths and weaknesses on the field, said Citrus head coach Steve Gomez.
"We have potential because the players are really competitive. Most guys know their position, but others come to tryouts not knowing what they are best in," Gomez said.
The team has set goals and is practicing hard to improve upon last year's sixth place finish in the south division, which only holds seven teams.
"We only won 12 games last season," Gomez said. "We're hoping to improve our record this year."
Last year, the team's win-loss record for the season was 12 to 23. Their conference win-loss record was 8 to 16.
"Our goals this season is to make playoffs and have a strong finish," said returning Owl pitcher Derrick Cullen.
During fall 2004, the team played 25 games between mid-August and before Thanksgiving, which did not count towards the conference season.
"The fall season is like a summer league season for baseball," Gomez said.
The 2005 baseball season consists of 38 games, including 15 at home.
"We have a strong schedule this season," Gomez said. "In our conference, we play the same teams we played last year. For the first time in many years, we will also be playing Mount San Antonio College."
Owl returning catcher Scott Marcus, 20, contrasted the Spring 2004 team with this year's squad.
"Our team has more unity and organization in practice," Marcus said. "We also have respect for the coach because he's the kind of guy that a player would want to listen to and follow."
Both Marcus and Cullen agree on the improvements the team must make this season to be successful.
"We need to be more consistent," Marcus said. "We should also learn from the attitude and mental mistakes we had last season."
The Owls' first home game is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. against Mendocino.
With a new head coach, eight returnees, and 19 recruits, the Owl baseball team is preparing for the Western State Conference season, which opens Feb. 22.
The team has been working on the basics and trying out different positions to determine each player's strengths and weaknesses on the field, said Citrus head coach Steve Gomez.
"We have potential because the players are really competitive. Most guys know their position, but others come to tryouts not knowing what they are best in," Gomez said.
The team has set goals and is practicing hard to improve upon last year's sixth place finish in the south division, which only holds seven teams.
"We only won 12 games last season," Gomez said. "We're hoping to improve our record this year."
Last year, the team's win-loss record for the season was 12 to 23. Their conference win-loss record was 8 to 16.
"Our goals this season is to make playoffs and have a strong finish," said returning Owl pitcher Derrick Cullen.
During fall 2004, the team played 25 games between mid-August and before Thanksgiving, which did not count towards the conference season.
"The fall season is like a summer league season for baseball," Gomez said.
The 2005 baseball season consists of 38 games, including 15 at home.
"We have a strong schedule this season," Gomez said. "In our conference, we play the same teams we played last year. For the first time in many years, we will also be playing Mount San Antonio College."
Owl returning catcher Scott Marcus, 20, contrasted the Spring 2004 team with this year's squad.
"Our team has more unity and organization in practice," Marcus said. "We also have respect for the coach because he's the kind of guy that a player would want to listen to and follow."
Both Marcus and Cullen agree on the improvements the team must make this season to be successful.
"We need to be more consistent," Marcus said. "We should also learn from the attitude and mental mistakes we had last season."
The Owls' first home game is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. against Mendocino.