Texas Tech University Athletics
Baseball Transfers Getting into the Swing of Things
February 01, 2005 | Baseball
Feb. 1, 2005
By Jenna Sampson, Special To TexasTech.com
Take a stroll by Dan Law Field this week and you'll hear the familiar crack of metal bats and the loud pop of baseballs settling into well worn gloves. Just watch out for foul balls. America's favorite pastime is still alive and well in Lubbock, Texas, and the Red Raiders are less than a week away from stepping onto the field for the Alumni Game.
Fans will see a lot of new faces on the squad this season. Coach Larry Hays has added fourteen transfers to the roster, many of whom will be making a big impact for the Red and Black. The newcomers are adjusting to the transition from the junior college ranks to Big 12 competition and most have never played in front of a big crowd.
"It's definitely a lot different, the whole system- how everything is run. The competition, of course, is a lot better in the Big 12. I've never played in front of this many people, but I came to a few games last season before I signed. It definitely gets the adrenaline going and you probably throw a little harder when there are people in the stands," said pitcher Adam Lawford.
The right-hander from Chula Vista, California spent the last two seasons striking out opposing players for Grossmont City College in San Diego. Lawford follows in the footsteps of several Grossmont players who have donned uniforms for the Red Raiders, but just because he hails from SoCal doesn't mean his teammates call him "Sunshine." He can catch a wave or two when he's at home, but Lawford is a country boy at heart.
"It's a lot different than Cali, but I like it. They actually call me "Country" because I like to listen to country music," he said with a smirk.
Fall ball gave Lawford plenty of time to make improvements in pitching mechanics with the help of pitching coach Travis Walden. His specialty is serving up a mean change-up to unsuspecting batters, and he's working hard to crack the starting lineup.
"My consistency and my control has gotten a lot better. I can't wait until the 8th to get going," he added.
Lawford isn't the only West Coast transfer. Seattle transplant Brent Thomas was picked up in the 15th round of the 2004 draft by the Mariners, but opted for a college education instead. The speedy outfielder provided a big offensive threat for Bellevue College, hitting .350 with 25 stolen bases last season.
"Switching over from community college was harder because there's more competition, better pitching, more pressure to perform well because of the crowds. It makes you more mature, and it turns you into a man real quick. It will humble you. The first day I got here we did conditioning and I've never been so tired in my entire life. At the same time, you're grateful for the opportunity," he said.
Thomas has had a tough transition to make, especially coming from a wood bat league. As an outfielder, the reads off the bat are a lot different. The wind here doesn't help either.
"During the fall I had balls going over my head. I had been playing against wood bats for three years, and I wasn't used to balls going opposite field over my head. With a metal bat it's just a flick of the wrist for a homerun," Thomas added.
One thing is for sure. Thomas won't have any problem finding the sweet spot. Hitters accustomed to stepping into the box with a wood bat have a sweet spot just a few inches long. The painful experience endured to find it isn't easily forgotten, so they have excellent hand-eye coordination.
"It's a whole different game with a wood bat," he summed up.
Tech also picked up junior pitcher Billy Carnline from Wharton Junior College this spring. The right-hander from Porter, Texas led Wharton to a conference and South Zone Championship last season, posting an 8-2 record with 76 strikeouts. Radar guns have routinely clocked the righty at 96 mph, but he aims to consistently hit the strike zone at 93-94 mph.
"Coach Walden has done a great job so far. I've been here for three weeks and have improved my mechanics. I've made a big improvement in the location of my pitches. Also the velocity is up there where it needs to be," said Carline.
 Junior transfer Billy Carnline is trying to earn a spot in the starting rotation.  | |
"The competition up here is going to be so much better than the JUCO level, even though I did play in one of the stronger conferences. Big 12 baseball- you can't beat it," he added.
Carline will be pitching in front of a big crowd this season, an adjustment from the few dozen who regularly attended Wharton games. He hopes to impact the pitching lineup as a weekend starter once conference starts. He only had a few words to say about his first few weeks in the Hub City.
"It's a little windy here."
Bird lovers should stop reading here. Most baseball fans recall the bird that made the unfortunate mistake of flying into the path of a Randy Johnson fastball a few years ago. Carline has no problem if that scenario occurred on Dan Law Field.
"Actually that would be kind of cool if I did. I'll take that," he laughed.
Carnline should be getting plenty of defensive help behind him in junior second baseman Travis Young. The North Texas College transfer hails from Odessa and has wanted to play baseball at Tech since he was a kid.
"Pretty much. I've never seen a baseball game here, but I always wondered what it would be like to play here," Young said.
Fans can watch the newcomers suit up for the first time at the annual Alumni Game on Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. at Dan Law Field. Nineteen alums will lace up their cleats for the hometown crowd and take time for autograph and photo sessions. Admission is free. For season ticket information, please contact the Texas Tech Athletic Ticket Office at (806) 742-TECH or 1-888-GOBIG12.
