Only three weeks separate the Bisons from their first home game of the 2011 baseball season.
But right now the Bisons are excited to take the field for inter-squad games. After weeks of workouts, the players are glad to get in some game-like hitting.
“[The workouts] have been tough but they have been productive,” said Brett Teschner, a sophomore catcher. “We really spent a lot of time on what we needed to work on, and we have everyone in as good of season shape as we could with the weather we’ve had to deal with.”
All the players were excited to see the throwing of Vanderbilt transfer Richie Goodenow, Connor Sinclair, Mike Grace, Ben Johnson and Chris Nunn during the first inter-squads.
But looking from the other end of the battery, Teschner knows he’s in a battle for starting time behind the plate.
Senior Matt Brewer, redshirt sophomore Bennett Smith and junior Logan Hostettler will be Teschner’s competition.
“[As far as] the catching spot this year, no one has anything won,” Teschner said. “Any one of us can play at any moment. I just think now it will come down to who is the most consistent along with driving in runs and good, productive at bats.”
Coach Jeff Forehand says the proof will come both behind the plate and with a bat.
“All four of them do some good things,” Forehand said. “We want one guy but right now I can’t say that one guy has won the job.
“Hostettler has been back there for a lot of innings. Teschner swings the bat with a lot of pop. Brewer is a pretty good thrower and defender. And Smith is coming off a season where he had to sit out because of a transfer. Smith arguably had the best fall season of any of them.”
Lee Wilson was a surprise contributor to the team last year. As a freshman he led the team with a .339 batting average.
“I feel like the pressure is on to perform again, and do as well if not better than last year,” Wilson said. “I feel like I can continue to contribute and make things happen for the team not only with my play, but also I can help the new guys with the experience I was able to gain last year.”
And all eyes are set on the post-season.
“We all agree that the A-Sun tournament is the goal we all want to make happen, and especially with us hosting it again,” Teschner said.
Now that they are throwing, catching and hitting to challenge each other, they are anxious to get to opening day Feb. 18 against Dayton, here at Dugan Field at 4 p.m.