Stepping up to the plate

Head Coach: Corey Mercer
2009 record and finish: 18-22
Last national appearance (1992): Third place

Arrivals:
You can expect to see lot of new faces on the diamond this season. The North Lake Men’s Baseball team will have to hold an exclusive task to reach the NJCAA DIII national championship. Two new additions are pitchers Justin Tompkins from Decatur High School and Austin native Brian Bailey. Both will step up to the mound and are expected to bring a lot to the plate.

Departures:
The Blazers have lost some experience like pitcher Dalton Schafer. He averaged a 3.9 ERA with the exception of 64 strikeouts in the 2009 season. Catcher, Zac Rossman and Clint Roberts who is the jack-of-all-trades are the only returning starters. Although they are expected to have a stellar season, Rossman and Roberts will still have to earn their spots.

Role Players:
It’s too early to determine your role players as always at the dawn of a season. But it’s going to take a massive amount of efforts for everyone to pull their own weight. Mercer is not assuming his club is full of superstars, but the Blazers have to show up fearless and ready to go each game. There are just so many new guys you don’t know what to expect.

Breakout Candidates:
Last season Roberts won All-Conference utility, and pitcher Drew Hallford who transferred to UT-Dallas was awarded All-Conference outfielder. Is there a runner-up for the young Blazers team this season? Sure, UT-Dallas transfer and right-fielder Eric Neff will probably fill Hallford’s shoes. However, they are going to need a bunch of players to pick up the load.

Outlook:
Comparing the 2009 season to this one, Mercer expects a better one this year. But how is that when you’re a less experienced team? According to Mercer, these groups of guys indicate more athleticism and talent. Like all coaches, Mercer will prepare this team to the best of his ability and let their natural talents take over. Richland and Eastfield have been leading teams in conference year in and year out. Richland took the 2009 NJCAA national championship winning four in the last eight years.

Prediction:
The Blazers should be significantly better than last season. Mercer predicts a 30-21 record. He said the players have been working really hard and he has high hopes for the upcoming season.