Javelinas take on the Aggies in Lawton, Oklahoma
This year’s Javelina baseball team will take the field against Cameron University to start the season in a double header on Feb. 5 at Nolan Ryan Field. The Lone Star Conference (LSC) has the Javelinas finishing fourth in the 13-team conference this season after finishing third a year ago. Last year, the season series between Cameron University was 2-1 in favor of the Javelinas in Oklahoma.
The off-season has been a long road for Javelina Baseball Head Coach Jason Gonzales and his players.
Filled with early wakeup calls and off-season competition, the men worked on building the grit to compete in the long season over the fall.
“We were in the weight room at five in the morning,” Gonzales said. “We would put our guys through competitive drills away from the game of baseball, all with intent to put our players in the best physical shape for the season ahead.”
From the players, the team is all in the process and is ready to take on the Aggies. Due to the uncertainty of the weather, the decision to make the season opener a double header came on Jan. 31, but Newcomer of the Year Logan Garza assures the team has trained well for this moment.
“We’ve been working hard throughout the fall and working hard since returning back from break. We have a lot of hungry players ready to take the field,” Garza said.
Coach Gonzales said season polls hold no merit to the amount of work that his team will put out to come out on top of one of the toughest conferences in the nation.
“Our mentality is to never accept second place if first place is up for grabs,” Gonzales said. “We don’t put a lot of stock in polls because we get to go out there and write our own story on the field.”
The 50-game season is upon the Javelinas, and a strong roster follows Gonzales to the season opener.
“Our team looks strong. We got in some new players this season to fill in the gaps that we needed hitting and pitching wise. We’re excited for this year and expect to come out strong on opening day,” Infielder Ivan Durante said.
The matchup between the Aggies will be the opening of a statement season for the Javelinas. The next opponent will be the Falcons in Odessa, Texas on Feb. 11.