Bakersfield College baseball has high hopes for the season
Julian Moore
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: Sports
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Renegades head coach Tim Painton feels they have improved in every aspect of the game and this is in large part due to having the luxury of playing a full season at home.
"Everything will improve over last year," he said.
"Last year we played 38 home games on the road and that's just not how baseball is meant to function."
The Renegades are bringing back 14 players from a team that went just 11-17 in conference with an overall record of 13-27-1 and Painton is looking for them to "just be better than last year."
He attributes some of the rocky freshman play last season to the difference of talent from high school athletics, but acknowledged that the players went through a lot of growth over the previous season and is pleased with his team.
"We've seen that [growth] throughout the fall. So we're happy with our returning players and what they've done," he said.
"As far as our current freshmen, its going to be a learning experience as well for them because game situations and the caliber of play we're going to see is different than they've played against in the past," Painton said.
Sophomore shortstop Joe Ramirez knows what it's like to be a freshman on a collegiate level team as he recalled, "Last year I was a little nervous, I got to admit, but I'm going to be there helping them through everything and lead by example. Hopefully people will follow."
Sophomore first baseman/pitcher Art Charles feels another area of the team's improvements is in the clubhouse.
"Team chemistry is just off the charts right now. We've grown so much as a team over the summer, so there's just not much we need to do. We're already doing it," he said.
Charles added, "I have a good feeling about this year, Final Four is calling our name."
The Renegades will also be without outfielder Jarret Martin, who hit .331 with 11 home runs (a BC record) and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.
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