Kats keep focus as Opening Day approaches
2/8/2017 12:34:00 AM | Baseball
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HUNTSVILLE – In just over a week, No. 23 Sam Houston State opens its 2017 season at Don Sanders Stadium. On Tuesday, they continued preparation – this time, taking the field under the lights for the first time.
“We do a lot of simulating,” third-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “Tonight was basically a simulation of a Tuesday game all the way down to the pre-game meal to how we go about early work to batting practice to what we're going in the clubhouse when the other team is taking BP. The sooner you can master your routine there are no surprises.”
According to Deggs, the defending Southland Conference champions, who garnered their first top-25 preseason ranking in team lore, have not been short on enthusiasm.
“We were going to call the game in the seventh but they wanted to play another inning because it was tied,” Deggs said after Tuesday's intersquad scrimmage. “When the players' passion gets to matching the coaches' passion, you have a chance to do something really special. You don't get that all the time.”
The Bearkats climbed to a program-best No. 34 RPI a season ago and have put together another challenging non-conference slate highlighted by 12 games against preseason nationally-ranked teams and an opening three-game set against a Nevada program that received votes.
In order to be ready for those tests, the players are challenged to compete with the same intensity whether it's a preseason scrimmage or regular-season game with an understanding that the opponent is the same.
“Our biggest opponent is us,” Deggs said. “All of our celebration comes in the small things like how our preparation is and what kind of teammate we are. We don't get something extra from the tackle twill across someone's jersey. We're going out to play baseball regardless of who it is against.”
On the mound, Sam Houston expects to benefit from an influx of new hurlers – predominately southpaws – in the bullpen. The unit will bolster returning starters Heath Donica, Riley Gossett and Dakota Mills, who combined to post a 19-7 record and 3.15 ERA in 2016.
“They've really bought into the program,” Mills said. “They have a ton of compete and a lot of work ethic. I think it will benefit us to have this depth and makes it easier on the starting arms we do have.”
The staff will also be supported by a pair of left-handers who redshirted a season ago. Seth Ballew is a favorite to find his way into the rotation and Riley Cooper is no stranger to big-game competition after spending two seasons with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.
“It's like pulling teeth to score a run right now and we're offensive,” Deggs said. “The newest part of our team is on the mound and the job coach (Jay) Sirianni has done has been phenomenal. The best news for us is those newcomers aren't going to get worse, they are just going to keep getting better.”
Sam Houston opens the season one week from Friday with the first of a three-game set at 6:30 p.m. against Nevada from Don Sanders Stadium. Regular season and single-game seats are currently available by calling (936) 294-1729 or by visiting GoBearkats.com.
“Tonight we played in front of 25 parents,” Deggs said. “In a little over a week, we'll play in front of over 1,200 fans. I think we've got one of the best schedules in the country for any level. Our schedule is by design. I don't think any of us signed up here to play a bunch of give-me wins. The only way you get better is by playing the best.”
