Texas Tech University Athletics
Freshmen Anticipating Opening Day
January 21, 2005 | Baseball
Jan. 21, 2005
By Jenna Sampson, Texas Tech Media Relations
Special For www.texastech.com
With the first pitch of the season only weeks away, the Texas Tech baseball team is hard at work fine tuning swings in the batting cages and perfecting fielding skills on the diamond. Opening Day can't come soon enough for these players, and the seven true freshmen fighting for starting spots are ready to go.
"I've been looking forward to it since we showed up in late August. All the talk in the locker room, guys talking about how much fun it is to be playing at this level. I'm really excited to be playing with these guys," said first baseman Josh Wilson.
"You've got the Hecklers, it's a great atmosphere, and everyone supports the team. It's going to be unbelievable playing in front of that many people supporting you like that," he added.
Fan support is a Tech baseball tradition, and the freshmen have heard all about it. The Tech Hecklers have been voted "Best Fans in the League" for the last five seasons by the Big 12 conference. The newcomers got a small taste of it during the Red and Black series, but nothing compares to conference play.
"It's going to be a blast. I can't describe what the excitement is going to be like. My parents are coming in and a lot of relatives from Dallas," said infielder Drew Roberts.
Fall ball proved to be invaluable for the new Red Raiders, helping them make the big jump from the high school ranks to Big 12 competition.
"You need that little transition that you don't really get playing in high school because you've got football and basketball. Coming and playing a little bit in the summer and the fall was like a whole other season, a real good transition into this level of play and getting us ready," said Wilson. The first baseman will be battling it out with three other players to crack the starting lineup.
"A lot of times in high school you find yourself and a few other guys as being the top talent. Here everyone's at the same level if not better than you are, and you have to step up your game. Playing around guys like Cameron Blair, Cooper Fouts, and Cody Fuller, they're just great athletes. They're competitors and they help prepare you for what you need to know," he added.
Roberts is every coach's ideal ballplayer, serving as the team's utility player capable of filling in at any position. Though he has played shortstop in high school, Roberts will be prepared to enter the lineup at both third and second this season. Moving from short to the hot spot is a little easier than moving to the other side of the diamond, but Roberts is equal to the task.
"I'm used to the left side of the diamond, so the adjustment from short to third is not as different as the switch from short to second. I'm pretty comfortable anywhere and all fall I prepared for both," he said.
"The most important skill to have as a baseball player is confidence. Playing four games a week wears and tears on your body, so you have to be strong mentally. Especially playing in an atmosphere like this in the Big 12, your mind has to be at 100 percent every game," he added.
Mental sharpness is especially important for the guys behind the plate. Catcher Matt Smith has been working hard learning the ins and outs of calling pitches and is expected to back-up senior catcher Cooper Fouts.
"Fall ball really helped me out a lot. I sat down with Coach Walden and we've really discussed a lot of what I should do in certain situations as far as calling pitches. Right now it's all on me. I'm trying to learn how to call pitches at the college level," he said.
Fortunately, Smith has Fouts showing him the ropes.
"He's been here a while and he's just a great leader. He's the first one here and the last to leave, and I try to associate myself with him as much as possible so I can maybe fill his shoes next year," Smith said.
"There are a lot of transfer pitchers in, so we're both having to learn their weaknesses and strengths, when and where they can throw strikes and what pitches they can throw the best," he added.
The upperclassmen have been instrumental in helping the freshman transition to the college level. Initiation onto the team hasn't been too bad, but there are a few things the freshmen have to do. Duties include cleaning out the dugout and picking up balls after batting practice, as well as a few things they probably left out.
"All of the seniors have been really good at making the freshman fit in. Our catcher Cooper Fouts has made a good transition for the freshman. He's made it really easy for the freshman to fit in," said Roberts.
One of the most important tools for a freshman to become a complete baseball player is choosing a chew of choice. For Smith and Wilson, it's Big League Chew. Roberts prefers something else.
"Definitely sunflower seeds."
That's bad news for his fellow dugout cleanup crew.
Roberts, Smith, and Wilson are joined by true freshmen Chris Richburg, Brian Cloud, Miles Morgan and Brady Conine. Richburg is an outfielder, while Cloud and Conine are both right hand pitchers.
The 2005 season starts Feb. 8 when the Red Raiders host the New Mexico Lobos at Dan Law Field at 3 p.m. The opening home stand is capped by a weekend series against Northern Illinois. Season Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (806) 742-TECH or 1-888-GOBIG12.
