Wahoo Wire



The Cavaliers baseball team took the field Saturday for their first official team practice of the new year. Coming off a tough loss to South Carolina in the College World Series, it is clear that the players and coaches are ready to brush off and start anew this year. “Overall, if you look back on it we had a great season,” remarked 3^rd year shortstop Chris Taylor. “But this year, we have new goals and it all starts over. You can’t worry about the expectations and everything you’ve just got to go out and start all over.”

Taylor’s partner in the middle infield, 4^th year second baseman Keith Werman, echoed his teammate’s sentiments. “It was a tough loss, and obviously we want to make it to that final series, but coming back here we understand what it takes to get to that level and we understand those details, those 90 feets are very important. And to be able to do the fundamental things right, we’re gonna really emphasize that with the new guys and all of the veteran players understand that.

Another big story at practice was the arrival of 1^st year outfielder Derek Fisher. Fisher decided to join UVA this year after being drafted in the 6^th round of the MLB draft by the Texas Rangers this past year. “Derek’s a great athlete, he’s an exciting player, a power left-handed hitter, and those kind of players, it’s rare for them to bypass the draft out of high school,” remarked Head Coach Brian O’Connor. But he’s here, he’s a Cavalier, and we’re going to do everything we can with him to make him into the best possible baseball player he can be.

The Cavs lost their entire starting rotation and outfield from last year to either graduation or the draft, but the team doesn’t seem all too concerned with the startling amount of starting spaces up for grabs this year. “The challenging thing is, when you have a good baseball program, you’re going to lose good players to the professional draft,” noted O’Connor. “But I recall back in 2009 when we made our first trip to the College World Series, we had a very, very young outfield that year too, and it seemed to work out for us. They’re good players, we’ve just got to continue to teach them to make them better.”

“We have some great guys that came out of the pen and they understand that their roles may change and we’ve got a lot of new guys that learn a little bit of the of the system,” added Werman, “but I think using this [fall ball], we’re going to work hard and do what we need to do get ready for the spring and we’ll be in good shape.”

Although February is still 6 months away, the Cavs already appear ready and willing to defend their ACC title, and to add that elusive National Championship to their trophy cabinet come spring.