Baseball team ready for the new season

The Eastern Florida State College baseball team has reloaded and ready to take the field for the first time this season on Friday afternoon.

The staff put a focus on defense and pitching in the offseason and feel good about how the team looks as they head into the home opener against South Florida State College Friday at 2 p.m. at Bruce Bochy Field.

"In the past we have always been able to hit really well and had a few good arms. This is the best staff I have had since I have been here. We are very strong on the mound and the defense has been phenomenal," Tam said. "We could not be more pleased with the hard work that they have put in. The work ethic in general, we have a lot of business-like guys."

The team has a solid group of sophomores led by catcher Elian Merejo who was second-team all-Southern Conference last season, hitting .335 with a team-leading 15 doubles. Jasson Corniel is also back after hitting .318 last season. JP Williams, Scarlen Perez and Tyler Keysor all came out of the bullpen last season and will be key members of the pitching staff this season.

"Keysor is rated extremely high, Owens is swinging the bat well. There is a core group there that we are hoping to rely on," Tam said. "We made the change to be a bit better on defense and that may make us a bit lighter on the offense, but you never know. Regardless of what you think you have, we haven't played a game yet."

The saying in baseball is that pitching and defense wins ball games and the Titans believe they have enough of both to put together its fourth straight 30-win season.

"We are still unproven, but that's what they say and I think we are getting ready to find out," Tam said. "The guys are very well prepared. Coach (Roman) Restrepo, coach (Jose) Soto and coach (Jason) Broussard have done phenomenal jobs of getting them what they need, they have what they need to be successful and it is just a matter of being in the moment and executing in those tough situations."

Game one is Friday afternoon at Bruce Bochy Field. First pitch is at 2 p.m. and admission is free.