March is a time to celebrate the early hints of spring and a hope of release from winter’s cold grasp.
At SLCC, there is even more reason to celebrate the oncoming spring: the Bruin Baseball team boasts a national ranking heading into the 2013 season.
The Bruins stand at 17th nationally, but head coach DG Nelson says he’s shocked that they aren’t ranked even higher.
“We look at our ranking as motivation to be ranked even higher,” said Nelson. “It’s an honor to be nationally ranked, and it’s something we take pride in.”
Expectations for the team are high following a stellar 2012 season that resulted in a 45 -10 record which included a first place finish in the SWAC and being ranked 12th in the nation.
“We don’t get too much into the result,” said Nelson, “We work hard every day, and our theme is to work every pitch and every play. We take pride in every moment.”
The Bruins have 11 players returning from last year’s team, which will be a key ingredient to their continued success this season
“We have a group of guys who go to the gym everyday and get after it,” said Nelson, “Hard work and dedication is the staple of our team’s personality.”
It’s this type of team effort off the field that has kept the Bruins sharp during the offseason and made them a favorite to win their division.
Despite the inclement weather and lack of practice time, the Bruins have started the season strong and currently rank second in the SWAC.
“I really like our development,” said Nelson. “It takes a great effort on everyone’s part to be successful. We don’t rely on any specific player because we feel we are a very deep and talented team.”
The Bruins coaching staff takes pride in recruiting a well rounded group of players that perform on and off the field
The previous semester, the team averaged a 3.0 GPA which showed a commitment to success in the classroom that has translated to on-field success.
The Bruins traditionally have a great home record and count on the support of their fans as extra motivation on the field.
The team appreciates the tremendous support it gets from family and friends, but it’s the fans that generate the most excitement.
“Having a good crowd and support system plays a huge role in our success,” said Nelson. “Our fans take pride in our program, and those who come out to our games are going to see a fun and exciting team.”
