With Spring break this week the coach reminded all the players who left to take a mitt and visit the batting cages at least 25 or 30 minutes everyday. He wants them to have fun on break, but is quick to remind them of the importance of daily practice. Coach reminded them that spring break for a week, with a season opening game the following week; the team cannot afford to slack off. Coach Bass tells the young guys before departing for Florida, “You guys are going to Florida and Florida is a baseball state, there are plenty of batting cages around”.

    The season opener is against Martinsville and they are always a good team. They did loose a couple of their star pitchers this past year, “But they are still a very good team”, according to coach Bass.

   The team is especially anxious to play, because they have new uniforms this year. They got to wear them once and they liked them. Coach picked them out and helps design them so he is especially proud of the teams’ appearance. The last time the team got new uniforms they won the county and the conference, “So maybe they’re good luck”, coach says.

    And what about those who choose not to go away for spring break? 16 players were at practice Thursday and they were working on everything. These are the elite of the elite, they choose workout over vacation, no mater what the reason they were they’re working. Hopefully their teammates who are partying on the Florida coast feels just as dedicated and are working out every day. And for those who choose to stay and work coach says he’s going to let them have part of next week off, “they have to have some fun”, he says. We’re not going to be too specific of practice workout because we don’t want our competition knowing the Woodmen secrets!

 

 

 

 

Matt McGraw is one of the many players practicing during Spring break. This slugger was taking no prisoners

    With the inside work that is restricting playing on the field time. Coach Bass thinks that it is also an advantage that when they do get on the field instead of leaning the basics, they can practice what they have learned.

   With 41-player roster and a good base the teams will have depth. It breaks down to 4 seniors, 10 juniors, 11 sophomores, and 16 freshmen.  They also have several guys who can play both Junior Varsity and Varsity. So this is a plus in the Coach’s eyes. If he is short or need and player in a certain area he can move then around. Coach Bass says, “We have 16 guys who can play Varsity if we need them.

   The team is optimistic about the up coming season, and Coach adds, “We are cautiously optimistic. The may only have 4 Seniors but they also have Juniors that have started since they were Freshman as well as a sophomore who has played last year also. So the team has depth and that can make for a nice season. In the words of the coach, “We’re young, but yet we have experience”.

   They team has 4 solid Seniors but the real strength according to coach Bass is in the sophomore’s and Juniors. Coach was referring to the 10 Junior and 11 sophomores, which make a strong young team.

Web Highlights of some of the practice and dedication of these players.

Click on control to play movie

Coach Bass Video on front page

The Woodmen took the field and pitched to a formidable foe, the Brown County Eagles. The air was quite cool, nearly freezing, and the field was wet.

   Beginning the first pitch the Woodmen established a precedence that they were there to play. As the Eagles took the first pitch it became apparent that the Woodmen meant business.

   The First batter #9 Joe Watson thought that he would make the pitches come to him, a decision that was a mistake for the young Eagles. Evans brought the heat on, in spite of the near freezing temperatures. Watson hit a out field fly to Dylan Moore who fielded the ball with confidence and fine agility.

  The following two batters took the same attitude of making the pitcher do his job. Guess what, he did, catching them looking at his deceiving elegance. They both were sent back to the dugout for a reassessment for watching balls speed across the plate.

  The Woodmen got their first at bat at the bottom of the inning. #12 Zach Shultz lead off the bottom of the inning with a slammer that was caught in the outfield, barely missing a homer.

   The second batter faired no better and had an infield grounder which the Eagles beat him to first base.

   But then the third, fourth & fifth batters had a hay day. Placing the ball all over the gaps. The Eagles were rolling on the out field trying to field the fiercely hit balls.

   By the end of the first the Woodmen had a 1-0 lead that was the beginning of the end for the Eagles. The Woodmen had a nice inning in the third also and put the game away. The Eagles were sent soaring home and the Woodmen proudly accepted the Win 9-4.