Friday, January 30, 2015

2015 PalmettoStateBaseball.com preview: Coker

Thirteenth in a series of 2015 season previews for college/junior college baseball programs in South Carolina. I've asked for responses from every school. I'll run all I receive. Some days, I may run more than one. I'll publicize all on Twitter (@palmettobase) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Palmetto-State-Baseball-Blog/92994136001)


Story by Aaron Beebe, sports information department intern for Coker.

Baseball season is finally upon us once again and head coach Dave Schmotzer enters his 23rd season at the helm of the Coker baseball team. The Cobras will be looking to improve on their inaugural year in the South Atlantic Conference last season. 

"The expectation is to try and get better today," said Schmotzer.  "The results will take care of themselves when these guys learn to work together, take care of stuff off the field, and learn how to enjoy and execute the game."

Schmotzer who enters his 34th season as a coach in collegiate baseball, praises the strong senior leadership he has on this year's ball club.

"You don't get better leaders than these guys," said Schmotzer. "Leadership comes from the seniors and I talk to those guys everyday about how this is their one shot to be a leader to someone."

On the flip side of the coin, Schmotzer noted the wealth of youth this team presents. Thirteen freshmen make up the roster and it's not out the question that some of them will see a good amount of playing team this season.

"We haven't been this freshmen strong in a while," said Schmotzer. "I think our ability to get where we want to go depends a lot on how well those freshmen grow. But we will only be as good as our freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors allow us to be."

That growth will come from the leadership of the upperclassmen and a coaching staff that Schmotzer continuously raved about.

"Each guy has an opportunity to learn from Robert Skinner and Nick Callahan, those guys ability to teach the players how to win everyday is second to none," said Schmotzer.

Coker, picked 10th in the this year's SAC preseason poll, finished last season with an even 21-21 record and missed out on postseason play in their first year in the conference. But what Schmotzer is most concerned about was perfecting the little things, fielding, timely hitting and throwing strikes.

"To beat a good team, you have to be a good team yourself," said Schmotzer. "Being a good team means you have to do all the tangible things right. You have to field at a .965 percentage, you have to be around a 4.00 ERA, and you have good team leadership. We all eat the same applesauce; the race is within ourselves trying to improve every day."

The pitching staff while young on paper, returns numerous arms that saw a large about of playing time last season. The rotation will be led by junior flamethrower Matthew Prosser who won SAC Pitcher of the Week honors twice in 2014 and finished the year 4-3 record. The trio of Ben Brown, Forrest Arnold and Adam Webb also finished their freshmen campaigns with four wins each.

"Our pitching needs to do their job, our defense needs to do their job, and our offense and base running has to do their jobs no matter the age," said Schmotzer. "I like this team a lot, we have good youth, good seniors. We look good at 4 o'clock some days but the game starts at 7 and that's what we are working towards."

Schmotzer's teams past and present have been associated with a couple things, winning, day by day growth, and chewing the nail.

"It doesn't matter whether its 1992 or 2015 I'm going to give them the nail and tell them to chew on it," said Schmotzer. "You have to learn how to get up in the morning, eat right, commit right, and you can't cheat your goals. This system is a farm system for life. What a great tool to show these kids the road map of life than a baseball, glove and a bat."

The Coker baseball team kicks off its season on the road at Chowan University on Sunday (Feb. 1) for a non-conference doubleheader starting at noon. The first home game is on Monday (Feb. 9).

Next: Coastal Carolina

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