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Home Don't Miss No. 20 SLCC baseball builds on experience
  • Don't Miss
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No. 20 SLCC baseball builds on experience

By
Brian Preece
-
February 26, 2020
0
Cade Perkins swings the bat
SLCC infielder Cade Perkins (21) swings for a base hit during a Feb. 22 game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)

Imagine stepping up to the plate, down by one run. It’s the final inning, the bases are loaded, and there are two outs. The entire game depends on you coming through.

Bruins freshman catcher Jake Herman lived that moment earlier this season.

Entering the bottom of the eighth inning against the South Mountain Cougars, the Bruins had scratched across one run, closing the gap to 3-2. With the bases loaded, head coach D.G. Nelson tabbed Herman as the guy the Bruins wanted with a bat in his hands.

Herman came through in a big way; one swing of the bat sent the ball screaming over the outfield fence for a walk-off grand slam home run and 6-3 Bruin victory.

Following that heart-stopping moment, No. 20 Salt Lake Community College (13-3) has won eight of nine games, beating the defending NJCAA National Champion and then-No. 6 Central Arizona before falling to then-No. 12 Yavapai College in the Arizona tournament.

The sun might not always be out, and temperatures are still chilly, but Bruin baseball is ready to enter the conference portion of its schedule at home this weekend.

Entering his 15th season, head coach D.G. Nelson is excited to get the campaign started.

“We need to keep working, but we’re looking forward to playing in front of our home fans,” says Nelson.

Nelson is the longest-tenured coach on the staff, according to Kevin Dustin, director of SLCC Athletics.

“We count on D.G. to, in essence, be the dean of our coaching staff and set an example,” says Dustin.

It is Nelson’s example that helped lead to new LED lighting and new turf at Cate Field in West Jordan. But it’s the work with the players on the field that should be even more noticeable this season.

Baseball is often the toughest sport to predict. No matter how much it is studied or how much talent coaches think they have on the field, the final result usually comes down to pitching.

“With baseball, depth of pitching is key. This year, it seems like we are lined up, knock on wood, to have some depth and maturity in our pitching staff,” says Dustin.

Sophomores Jake Wilson, Breck Eichelberger, Jason James and Fynn Chester anchor the starting staff. Several players with extensive experience from last season look to help their pitchers defensively, in addition to run support by spraying the ball all over the diamond.

“We can really hit,” says Paul Marble, associate director of SLCC Athletics. “Cole Gambill can swing it, Eli [Norman] can crush it, Cade [Perkins] can hit. I’m leaving guys out, we have so many options.”

SLCC swept Treasure Valley Community College in two separate doubleheaders last Friday and Saturday by a combined score of 46-3. This weekend, the Bruins take on Colorado Northwestern Community College to begin conference play.

Bruin baseball games are streamed online at scenicwestnetwork.com.

Dalton Hodge slides to third base
SLCC outfielder Dalton Hodge (1) slides into third base during a Feb. 22 game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)
Jake Herman swings the bat
SLCC catcher Jake Herman (26) swings for a base hit during a Feb. 22 game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)
Fynn Chester pitches
SLCC pitcher Fynn Chester (31) throws to home during a Feb. 22 game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)
Cade Perkins swings for a base hit
SLCC infielder Cade Perkins (21) swings for a base hit against Treasure Valley Community College on Feb. 22. (Melissa Juarez)
Fynn Chester on the mound
SLCC pitcher Fynn Chester (31) throws off the mound against Treasure Valley Community College on Feb. 22. (Melissa Juarez)
Fynn Chester winds up
SLCC pitcher Fynn Chester (31) prepares to throw during a Feb. 22 game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)
Fynn Chester on the mound
SLCC pitcher Fynn Chester (31) takes awaits the sign during a Feb. 22 home game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)
Hoping to score a run
SLCC outfield Cole Gambill (4) eagerly awaits to take home while teammate Jake Herman (26) prepares to take a swing during a Feb. 22 game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)
Looking for the ball
SLCC catcher Jake Herman (26) flies out as Cole Gambill (4) prepares to score from third base during a game against Treasure Valley Community College on Feb. 22. (Melissa Juarez)
Sean Keating gets ready to bat
SLCC hitter Sean Keating (33) steps up to the plate as Cole Gambill (4) returns to third base during a Feb. 22 game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)
Thomas Grilli
SLCC infielder Thomas Grilli (3) swings the bat during a Feb. 22 game against Treasure Valley Community College. (Melissa Juarez)
SLCC pitcher Fynn Chester (31) throws against Treasure Valley Community College on Feb. 22. (Melissa Juarez)
SLCC dugout
The SLCC dugout cheers on their teammates during a game against Treasure Valley Community College on Feb. 22 (Melissa Juarez)
Sean Keating
SLCC hitter Sean Keating (33) prepares to bat against Treasure Valley Community College on Feb. 22. (Melissa Juarez)
Thomas Grilli steps in
SLCC hitter Thomas Grilli (3) up to bat against Treasure Valley Community College on Feb. 22. (Melissa Juarez)
SLCC wins 12-2
SLCC defeated Treasure Valley Community College 12-2 on Feb. 22. (Melissa Juarez)
  • TAGS
  • Baseball
  • Breck Eichelberger
  • Cade Perkins
  • Cate Field
  • Cole Gambill
  • DG Nelson
  • Eli Norman
  • Fynn Chester
  • Jake Herman
  • Jake Wilson
  • Jason James
  • Kevin Dustin
  • Paul Marble
  • Salt Lake Community College
Brian Preece

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