Buffaloes stampede into town for baseball series
After dropping two of three games to Weber State last weekend, the Utah State baseball team is looking to rediscover its steady defense.
Missed cutoff men and stranded base runners were the glaring problems that stood out to USU Head Coach Ernie Rivers.
“We left way too many runners in scoring position with one out last weekend,” Rivers said. “Our other problem was our outfielders thought they could throw everyone out by themselves.”
When the outfielders overthrew the infield cutoff man, the Wildcats would move up an extra base. Against a club like Weber State, a team can’t afford to give up a free base, Rivers said. The Wildcats are the defending national champions.
The young players on the team are beginning to understand the difference in the level of play between high school and college baseball.
“The players are bigger and the pitchers throw harder,” said freshman second baseman/pitcher Cody Keller. “The game is a lot quicker at this level, but I’m getting more comfortable.”
The veteran players have been giving up plenty of playing time this fall so Rivers’ young charges can gain in experience.
“We have a lot of first-year players and they’re getting plenty of chances to improve and work on their game,” Rivers said. “They are definitely getting better.”
Despite the number of fielding errors committed in Saturday’s games, Rivers wasn’t concerned. The Logan High field hadn’t had a baseball game played on it in a couple of months and it was really rough from the football team practicing on it, Rivers said.
“I don’t want to use that as an excuse because we do have to execute our fundamentals better,” Rivers said. “I think these two losses will benefit us in the long run. We felt a little too good after the Boise trip.”
With his team receiving a wake-up call courtesy of the Wildcats, Rivers has been putting his club through the paces of hitting the ball to the right area of the field with a runner on base.
“We either hit the ball to the wrong spot or failed to make contact with runners on base,” Rivers said. “We’re missing too many scoring chances not hitting the ball in clutch opportunities.”
With the University of Colorado coming to town for a four-game series, Rivers is unsure just what to expect.
USU took four of the five games the teams played last year.
Rivers said they were a very competitive team and expects the same this year.
“It’s hard to gauge Colorado; I think they’ll be good again,” Rivers said. “We were just outstanding last year and with the talent Colorado had, it’s tough to get a feel for them. I know we’ll have to play well to beat them.”
The Aggie club will have to continue to improve to have a chance to win the tournament they are hosting in Mesquite, Nev. Feb. 27, 28 and 29.
Rivers said the 12-team tourney would feature some of the top teams in the country.
“I’m really excited about the tournament,” Rivers said. “We’re going to have to be on our horses to win that. There’s going to be some great baseball played there.”
To be ready for the big games looming in the spring, the club is focusing on making adjustments and improving this fall.
“I’m still not hitting the way I’m capable of, but the rust is starting to come off,” Keller said. “I’m still making adjustments to the college game though. As a team we’re coming together.”
With the team coming along at a pace that is satisfying Rivers, his battles with Providence are his biggest frustration.
“I was told the other day we can’t use the field preparation equipment anymore,” Rivers said. “This is getting ridiculous, we can’t even use their rakes without someone here to watch us. Have you ever heard of such a thing?”
After making improvements to Max Johnson Field and playing there the past several years, the team may be forced to move because of politics.
“I guess we’ll have to find a different place to play, this is really frustrating,” Rivers said. “I would really like to coach without all the politics in the way. This field is really going to deteriorate if we can’t work it.”
The club’s weekend series with Colorado is still set for Max Johnson Field in Providence.
-eds@cc.usu.eduUSU Baseball Prepares for Buffalos
Buffalos stampede into town for weekend series with USU Baseball Team
By Earl Scott
Staff Writer
After dropping two of three games to Weber State last weekend, the Utah State baseball team is looking to rediscover its steady defense.
Missed cutoff men and stranded base runners were the glaring problems that stood out to USU Head Coach Ernie Rivers.
“We left way too many runners in scoring position with one out last weekend,” Rivers said. “Our other problem was our outfielders thought they could throw everyone out by themselves.”
When the outfielders overthrew the infield cutoff man, the Wildcats would move up an extra base. Against a club like Weber State, a team can’t afford to give up a free base, Rivers said. The Wildcats are the defending national champions.
The young players on the team are beginning to understand the difference in the level of play between high school and college baseball.
“The players are bigger and the pitchers throw harder,” said freshman second baseman/pitcher Cody Keller. “The game is a lot quicker at this level, but I’m getting more comfortable.”
The veteran players have been giving up plenty of playing time this fall so Rivers’ young charges can gain in experience.
“We have a lot of first-year players and they’re getting plenty of chances to improve and work on their game,” Rivers said. “They are definitely getting better.”
Despite the number of fielding errors committed in Saturday’s games, Rivers wasn’t concerned. The Logan High field hadn’t had a baseball game played on it in a couple of months and it was really rough from the football team practicing on it, Rivers said.
“I don’t want to use that as an excuse because we do have to execute our fundamentals better,” Rivers said. “I think these two losses will benefit us in the long run. We felt a little too good after the Boise trip.”
With his team receiving a wake-up call courtesy of the Wildcats, Rivers has been putting his club through the paces of hitting the ball to the right area of the field with a runner on base.
“We either hit the ball to the wrong spot or failed to make contact with runners on base,” Rivers said. “We’re missing too many scoring chances not hitting the ball in clutch opportunities.”
With the University of Colorado coming to town for a four-game series, Rivers is unsure just what to expect.
USU took four of the five games the teams played last year.
Rivers said they were a very competitive team and expects the same this year.
“It’s hard to gauge Colorado; I think they’ll be good again,” Rivers said. “We were just outstanding last year and with the talent Colorado had, it’s tough to get a feel for them. I know we’ll have to play well to beat them.”
The Aggie club will have to continue to improve to have a chance to win the tournament they are hosting in Mesquite, Nev. Feb. 27, 28 and 29.
Rivers said the 12-team tourney would feature some of the top teams in the country.
“I’m really excited about the tournament,” Rivers said. “We’re going to have to be on our horses to win that. There’s going to be some great baseball played there.”
To be ready for the big games looming in the spring, the club is focusing on making adjustments and improving this fall.
“I’m still not hitting the way I’m capable of, but the rust is starting to come off,” Keller said. “I’m still making adjustments to the college game though. As a team we’re coming together.”
With the team coming along at a pace that is satisfying Rivers, his battles with Providence are his biggest frustration.
“I was told
the other day we can’t use the field preparation equipment anymore,” Rivers said. “This is getting ridiculous, we can’t even use their rakes without someone here to watch us. Have you ever heard of such a thing?”
After making improvements to Max Johnson Field and playing there the past several years, the team may be forced to move because of politics.
“I guess we’ll have to find a different place to play, this is really frustrating,” Rivers said. “I would really like to coach without all the politics in the way. This field is really going to deteriorate if we can’t work it.”
The club’s weekend series with Colorado is still set for Max Johnson Field in Providence.
-eds@cc.usu.edu