By: Samantha Meyers
As the sun beats hot on their backs, the soft, calm wind gives a breath of cool refreshment to the men playing on the diamond. They enjoy either playing under the vivid sun or the brilliant, park lights. They are the guys that bring home their men. The PJC men’s baseball team is causing whispers around campus; yes a new season of baseball has arrived.
The rush of the new 2009 season has already passed for the PJC baseball team. They have 13 games under their belt, with a record of 11-2.
Head Coach Bill Hamilton says one of his main goals for the season is to get higher than last year. The team was ranked third in state and first in the national polls. “We just want to get better every day, and we are stubborn at that sometimes,” said Coach Hamilton.
Hamilton believes this team possesses a high maturity level and knows what it takes to be winners. There are eight returning players with experience, along with great support and knowledge from the coaching staff.
With one of the best records in the state, Hamilton still sees much room for improvement. He states, “We have made a few elementary mistakes that we’ve got to quit. We physically have some very talented players, it’s just a matter of playing the game right.”
Several players are already committed to playing at the university level. Robert Beary is going to play for South Carolina next year; while Nicholls State, Troy University, and the University of Central Florida have a hold on some PJC players.
The baseball team has many rivals, but their main target is to improve each game and eliminate mistakes. They are focusing on not making the same mistake twice. “The conference is full of rivals, but our rival is always the next team. We handle the schedule in small bites, so we don’t let a team slip up on us,” said Hamilton.
Besides being Head Coach, Hamilton is the Athletic Director at PJC and has been for the past nine years, which is about half the time he has been a part of the staff for PJC. His favorite thing about being a coach is the relationships he has made with people over the years. HE is passionate for the sport, “Baseball is one of those games that can humble your heartbeat,” said Hamilton.
This 2009 baseball team deserves some smiling students in the stands to cheer them on. There are 20 more home games to go; so grab a baseball cap and a hotdog from the concession stand to enjoy an ultimate baseball experience.