The Western baseball team hosts this event every year and treats it as preparation for their upcoming season. While competition is still taken seriously, the overall mood of the game is lighthearted, and focuses on team-building and camaraderie.
Western baseball beat out the alumni team in both games with a score of 5-0 for the first game. The second game was called in the last inning due to rain, and the score of that game was 8-6.
Western senior centerfielder Joe Fike was one-for-two in the first game with two walks, and scored two runs. Western freshman outfielder Eric Moberly was two-for-two during the first game.
Western junior second baseman Alan Kennedy was one-for-one and had two walks, three runs and two RBIs in the second game. Western senior Blair Wyman was the starting pitcher in the second game and had four strikeouts in three innings.
Assistant coach and Western senior Evan Harris said he likes the alumni game because it allows people to relax and play to their potential, while providing an opportunity for constructive criticism.
Head coach and Western senior Adam Cochran said he appreciates meeting the alumni and seeing them play.
“It’s great seeing guys that graduated in ‘96 that I’ve never heard of come out and play,” Cochran said. “It’s great to see that they still have it.”
The coaches said this game is useful for warming up before the season and seeing what skills need to be perfected.
The coaching staff added 11 new players to the squad for this season. Cochran said last season’s team was hindered by the fact that they did not have a real catcher, so this season they added three players for that position.
Cochran and Harris said defense is the most important aspect for them, and a good catcher will make or break a game.
The new players will have big shoes to fill due to the loss of two team leaders. Kyle Tait was the previous head coach who has now graduated and left the position to Adam Cochran.
Mike Morris was the statistical leader on the team last year. Cochran also said the team will be affected by the departure of pitcher Alex Arima.
“I think this team’s going to be extremely disciplined this season both on and off the field,” Cochran said. “This is the best team in the four years I’ve been here.”
Harris said the team has seen a huge improvement in pitching since last year. The most important thing the team needs to work on is little stuff and this game helped them identify aspects such as running and picking up signs, Harris said.
Fike, who is in his first year as assistant coach, said the team needs live play more than anything, which is what this game provided.
The team is looking forward to good competition this year especially against their rival, University of Oregon.
“We want to show our best against them,” Harris said. “They are an intense rivalry and good competition.”
This game served as valuable insight into the strength of Western’s defense, but also revealed the need to work on hitting and swinging, Cochran said.
“We are physically ready and now we need to get mentally prepared,” Cochran said.
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