Baseball coach, players speak at Media Day

On Tuesday, VCU hosted its second annual Media Day. The Rams were joined by three other teams: the Richmond, Virginia Military Institute and Randolph-Macon. Rams head coach Paul Keyes and a few of his players commented on the upcoming season.

Baseball season starts next week and the Rams are looking forward to it. After falling short of expectations with a 15-30 campaign last season, which included an 8-17 record in the CAA, the Rams are eager to get back to the winning ways they are accustomed to under the guidance of head coach Paul Keyes.

In fact, Keyes said the season never happened.

“Last year, we didn’t have one,” Keyes said. “Our year last year was nonexistent.”

Senior outfielder Justin Wright (Yorktown/Grafton) said the poor season was a result of sub-par efforts by both players and coaches.

Keyes said pitching will be the key and sophomore pitcher Aaron Morgan (Sutherland/Dinwiddie) said he liked what he saw of the pitching staff in practice.

“We have some young arms that are going to be very good and very productive,” Morgan said. “So I am just looking forward to season to start.”

Depth in the lineup will be a major key to the offense.

The Rams will be able to interchange 15 players.

“Offensively, I think we are a lot deeper than last year because the guys who had good years last year are better,” Wright said. “We are going to score more runs.”

VCU also has two things in its favor this season.

The Rams have an easier schedule this season to help the younger players develop. They also have The Diamond to themselves after the Richmond Braves left for Gwinnett County in Georgia.

“Schedule-wise, it’s probably a little easier for us this time around,” Keyes said. “Obviously, being in The Diamond and being the number one tenant is going to help our players develop better than probably in the past.”

“We don’t have to worry about what the Braves are doing,” senior infielder R.J. Schenk (Yorktown/Tabb) said.

Wright, Morgan and Schenk all say their number goal is to win the CAA championship.

When Keyes was asked about his biggest goal this season, Keyes’ answer was simple.

“Win, win, win, just win,” Keyes said. “Whether we are playing Southern Cal or we’re playing somebody local we want to win the game when we get there.”

The Rams kick off the season at Central Florida on Fri., Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

The Rams first game will be against Long Island on Fri., Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. at The Diamond.