Stellar schedule awaits Diamond Hogs
Baseball Season Preview
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 2/16/09 Section: Sports
Entering the season ranked in the top 25, Arkansas baseball head coach Dave Van Horn said he likes the improvements the team has made on and off the field heading into the home opener against Washington State on Friday.
Van Horn admitted last year the team struggled because of injuries and club house issues.
"I felt really fortunate to get into a regional last year," Van Horn said. "Going into the season, we knew it could be a struggle. We blew some games and let them slip away late."
Going to a regional last year was valuable experience the team needed, Van Horn said.
"I think we realized we were not too far away," Van Horn said. "We got guys that want to play in Omaha. They want to play pro ball, but they want a championship ring. There are some guys that are running out of time."
Van Horn said he has been pleased with the clubhouse attitude.
"It was OK last year," Van Horn said. "But in the spring, it kind of became, what about me? If I'm not playing, it wasn't a great situation. This year's team, it's all about the team. And if you're not about the team you don't fit in."
The team has been picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference by many preseason publications, but the team will have to do the little things to improve upon last season, Van Horn said.
"We have to put the bat on the ball with runners in scoring position," Van Horn said. "We didn't do that last year. We are going to hit the ball into the gap and hit home runs. But we need to drive people in. We need to find our pitching roles before [conference play]."
And the team will be able to do that against some premier baseball teams.
Headlining the 37-game home schedule is No. 13 Arizona State, No. 16 Oklahoma, California and Nebraska.
"This is a great schedule for our fans," Van Horn said. "Nationally, our schedule is second to none. We spent some time on the road last year so that we could give the Razorback fans a great slate of games this season."
Van Horn admitted last year the team struggled because of injuries and club house issues.
"I felt really fortunate to get into a regional last year," Van Horn said. "Going into the season, we knew it could be a struggle. We blew some games and let them slip away late."
Going to a regional last year was valuable experience the team needed, Van Horn said.
"I think we realized we were not too far away," Van Horn said. "We got guys that want to play in Omaha. They want to play pro ball, but they want a championship ring. There are some guys that are running out of time."
Van Horn said he has been pleased with the clubhouse attitude.
"It was OK last year," Van Horn said. "But in the spring, it kind of became, what about me? If I'm not playing, it wasn't a great situation. This year's team, it's all about the team. And if you're not about the team you don't fit in."
The team has been picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference by many preseason publications, but the team will have to do the little things to improve upon last season, Van Horn said.
"We have to put the bat on the ball with runners in scoring position," Van Horn said. "We didn't do that last year. We are going to hit the ball into the gap and hit home runs. But we need to drive people in. We need to find our pitching roles before [conference play]."
And the team will be able to do that against some premier baseball teams.
Headlining the 37-game home schedule is No. 13 Arizona State, No. 16 Oklahoma, California and Nebraska.
"This is a great schedule for our fans," Van Horn said. "Nationally, our schedule is second to none. We spent some time on the road last year so that we could give the Razorback fans a great slate of games this season."
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