The California Baptist University men’s baseball team will kick-off its season Jan. 28 with the annual alumni game at the James W. Totman stadium, featuring CBU baseball alumni and the current CBU baseball team.
Gary Adcock, head coach, said the advice of the alumni and game preparation is a good kick-start to the season.
“It’s a chance to play an outside competition, put the uniform on and have umpires, have a crowd,” Adcock said. “It’s a game versus someone else besides themselves so the current players get a lot out of it.”
Adcock also said that since his first year of coaching, the number of alumni coming to the game has increased.
“Since this is my 14th year, that number has grown,” Adcock said. “Now the alumni get their families involved. The event has taken off recently with the number of alumni that we’ve been able to reach out to.”
Mario Najera, alumnus, said coming back to CBU makes him aware of how much has changed since he was a student.
“It makes me appreciate not only having been here, but seeing how much the campus has changed and grown over the years, yet ultimately the school principles and values are still the same,” Najera said.
The bond between players and the memories made on the CBU campus has made Najera feel at home while back on the field.
“When I take ground balls from pre-game and step up to the plate, it’s like I never left,” said Najera. “Playing the field, it’s almost as if I can still see my old teammates standing at their positions. It makes me feel nostalgic.”
Najera’s advice for the team is to listen to the coach, the staff and one another.
“Work together, work hard and have fun,” Najera said. “Enjoy the experience of being on a team together and appreciate if for what it is and win baby-just win.”
Tyson Miller, alumnus and RHP in the Cubs organizaiton, said his advice for the team is to play relaxed this season.
“We have a lot of good young guys and good team chemistry,” Miller said. “The team is looking good and headed in the right direction.”
Miller said his favorite memory as a CBU athlete is the bond created and shared on and off the field.
“Coach Adcock always told us once we’re gone, we won’t remember our stats or any games,” Miller said, “but we remember our teammates and the road trips we had.”
