VCU baseball: A-10 champs prepare for upcoming season

The VCU baseball team kicked its preseason into high gear in preparation for its first home game of the season, taking place on Feb. 19, 2016, where they will take on Kennesaw State University at the Diamond.

The baseball team has been in Richmond since August working hard to achieve its goals for the upcoming season.

“We are practicing just like every other team in the country, however we are lifting and training harder than any other. That I promise you,” said Walker Haymaker, a senior catcher from Orlando, Florida. “Every day the team meets up for lifting, conditioning and practice before they have a winter break, but the players are expected to work out just as hard on their own during their time off.”

Players were encouraged to work on their development in the offseason, especially in the weightroom, translating into a more efficient team capable of lasting throughout the season.

“We just finished our fall team practices and are now focusing our work in the weight room and on our individual skills leading into the winter,” said junior infielder Matt Davis.

The team split into small groups to work even further to lift and bulk up for the season. The teammates cheer each other on for encouragement and help each other to strive for nothing less than the best. Each and every day, the team works together to get stronger.

After a successful 2015 season, the team said they are feeling better than ever.

“We are all very proud of our previous success, however it has only made us hungrier to do even better this next upcoming season,” Haymaker said.

VCU finished last season with a 40-25 record before suffering defeat to the University of Miami in the NCAA Super Regionals.

“I feel extremely confident. Knowing exactly what it takes to get there, and win it. It definitely wasn’t easy with how we started the year off, but it was unbelievable how we finished,” said Cody Acker, a senior outfielder and first baseman.

The players acknowledge Head Coach Sean Stiffler and the program as one on the rise. The players have bought into the system completely.

“His experience is closely related to the senior class as a team because we were with him since his first year of head coaching. So he has won an A-10 championship and regional just as we have,” Haymaker said.

Stiffler’s extensive knowledge for the game is trickling down to his players. His ability to equate situations and the players ability to apply what was taught had much to do with the 40 wins last season.

“He knows the game of baseball very well. He played college ball and has had a lot of success coaching the Rams,” Gransback said.

Last year’s success is a building block for the future. The Rams will have their work cut out for them if they want to improve on last season’s success.

Article by: Grace Murden, Contributing Writer