With chilly mornings and frost still on the ground, it’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again. It’s time for the game that has been called, “America’s past time.” Some may want to debate that label today but there’s no denying the sport is the nation’s oldest past time having been played since 1839.
On the college level, baseball usually comes quickly on the heals of football’s National Signing Day. For many Americans, baseball like spring awakens thoughts of new life.
It brings hope and stirs the imagination. After all it is a part of the American fabric. Coming at the start of spring every year it reminds us of new beginnings, new birth, and a chance to start over.
At the end of last season the Auburn Baseball Team was left with the feeling of what might have been. The Tigers came within one run and three outs of Auburn’s first trip to the College World Series in over 20 years. In Auburn’s first trip to a super regional since 1999 Auburn forced a decisive game 3 against No. 1 overall seed Florida and came within one run and three outs of making it to the big show.
In the 11th inning freshman outfielder Steven Williams climbed the right field wall to grab a line drive but the ball swerved off his glove and over the wall. Within seconds the entire Auburn team emptied out to surround and console Williams in right field while Florida dogpiled in the infield celebrating a 3-2 win.
Still it was a record setting season finishing at 43-23, winning the Raleigh Regional by outscoring its opponents 40-12 and advancing to the second super regional in program history. Yet it was a disheartening way to end to what had been the best season on the Plains since hosting a 2010 regional.
But Friday will start a new day as the Tigers open with a five day home stand on Hitchcock Field. Fourth year coach Butch Thompson is optimistic despite losing some key payers including first round draft pick Casey Mize.
He will have a different team with18 new players on the roster. We expect juniors From Neurons to Neighborhoods: An Update: Workshop Summary , Davis Daniel, and the four returning freshmen All-Americans Working With Immigrant Families: A Practical Guide for Counselors (Family Therapy and Counseling) , Tanner Burns, Why Do We Always Come Back to This? , and The Gift Of Tai Chi to lead the way. In addition eight Tigers have been tabbed among the top 10 in their class by Perfect Game.
So after a long off season, it’s time for some peanuts and cracker jacks. It’s time for Auburn baseball. Nothing beats sitting in Plainsman Park in the spring with a hotdog and coke watching the Tigers play.
Even thought the Tigers came up short in their quest to make it to Omaha in 2018, this is a new day, a new season. And that’s what baseball does. It reminds us of new beginnings, new birth, and a second chance. I can’t wait …
War Eagle!
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