Andrew J. Ferraro
Staff Writer
With the 1998 baseball season beginning today, just about the only thing teams have in common are their records.
While it is certain that a few teams have played a game here or there, the one common denominator found in every ball club is the lack of games.
No matter what, every team begins the year at 0-0.
Coming into today's 1 p.m. season opener against Washington State in San Diego, Calif., the Cougars are ready to prove that they are not a team to be taken lightly, lack of collegiate experience or not.
Even with an average age of 20, the Cougars were still picked as the favorites to win Conference USA this year. "Last year we were the new team in the conference and the coaches picked us to finish right in the middle at fifth," head coach Rayner Noble said. "We had to earn the league's respect week by week and I think we did."
But Noble did warn that being the favorite can have its share of drawbacks
The main goal of this year's team is to repeat as C-USA champions. Consecutive trips to the NCAA regionals is another.
But the Cougars are going to have to prove themselves early, when they face the likes of Washington State, San Diego State and Alabama.
"Playing teams like (Alabama) will only help us out in the long run because you will know what you're up against," sophomore catcher Scottie Scott said. "You've hit against the best, pitched against the best, and from there it can only make you better individually and as a team."
Sophomore pitcher Shane Nance, who was recently tabbed by the C-USA coaches to be the Pitcher of the Year, said that playing teams like Alabama will let the team know where they stand in the world of baseball.
"I think that playing (Alabama) early will give us the experience of playing in front of the big crowds and can show us that we are capable of playing with anybody."
Sophomore pitcher Jerret Sykes added that playing tough opponents could be key in bringing the team together.
"It will be tough, but it will only help us mature," Sykes said. "But after last year, we are still a team that knows what it takes to win."