Baseball Strikes Out on N.Y. Trip

Lyndon State College's baseball team is looking to rebound from its weekend trip to Yaphank, New York.

            The Hornets were swept in their exhibition contests, losing by a combined score of 41-11, including a 20-3 loss to Mountain St. Mary of New York.

            Freshman third baseman Alex Gauthier sees the trip as a fruitful experience for the team, regardless of the final scores.

            "It was a great thing for the team because we stayed in the hotel together, got to know each other… we just bonded as a team," Gauthier said.

            The opposing scores are certainly high, which reflects poorly on the team's pitching. Freshman pitcher Mason Brewer does not it as a concern, however.

            "I thought we did pretty well. The score doesn't portray how well our pitching did. We had our jams, but we got out of most of them," Brewer said.

            In fact, the vibe from the team seems to be confident. Gauthier certainly is not panicking from the early-season exhibition losses.

            "It's early in the season. We're just getting a feel for each other out there. We're going to expect some good games, we're going to expect games where we can do better, but I see a lot of potential for this team," Gauthier said.

            Brewer expresses a similar notion to Gauthier, but given his pitching background, offers a little more bias on the situation.

            "I think we'll be competitive because we have experience, and we have young arms… We have experienced arms against the teams we're going to play," Brewer said.

            An advantage that the team has is its mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen. The younger athletes, like Brewer and Gauthier, can learn from more experienced players. In fact, Brewer has learned an invaluable lesson from the vets on the team: to have self-confidence.

            "I think to be confident is what I picked up from them, because if you're nervous, you're going in, panic, and start throwing… We're on this team for a reason, so we know we can pitch," Brewer said.

            The time draws near to see if team's pre-season performance is a sign of things to come, or just a bump in the road. Opening day for the Hornets will feature a double-header on Saturday, March 17. First pitch will be at Mass Maritime starting at 1:00 p.m., followed by another contest at 3:30 p.m.