9
Suns out, gloves out
CLACKAMAS’ BASEBALL TEAM BREAKS OUT THE LEATHER AND STARTS NEW SEASON
STORY BY J ^ C O B THOMPSON
SPORTS-EDITOR
After a disappointing 14-27 overall record and 7-17 last
place finish in the South Region in 2017, Clackamas
Community College’s baseball team is ready for a fresh
start in 2018 and several players believe they have what
it takes to make the NWAC playoffs.
On th e fie ld la st y e ar, th e C ou gars stru ggled
offensively, finishing 17th in the NWAC for hits and
12th in runs as w ell as defensively finishing 26th in
strikeouts and com m itting 58 errors, but it ’ s the o ff-
field chemistry of this year’ s baseball team that has the
players excited, believing th is is the year the Cougars
w ill break through.
“ Some of the guys we had here last year were here
for th e wrong reasons,” head coach Jim Hoppel said.
“ There were a few groups that didn’t combine as one.
These guys th is year have no issues like th éy said,
th ey’re all one big family. This group is one of the best
I’ve been around and I’ve been coaching for 25 years. ”
The C ougars retu rn 10 p layers from la st y e a r’ s
squad, w hich include last year’ s top three home run
hitters in outfielder Tyler Parker (6 HRs), 3rd baseman/
pitcher Renner Stecki (3 HRs) and 2nd baseman/pitcher
Berry Hunt (2 HRs) . Clackamas also returns their two
w inningest pitchers Stecki (5 w ins, 4.22 earned run
average) and Cody Anderson (4 wins, 2.72 ERA). The
Cougars are going to need their pitching staff to come
through for them this season and Anderson believes
the culture the Cougars are building is going to make
the biggest difference.
“ This is group is one o f the best
I’ve been around and I’ve been
coachingfor 25 years.”
-J im Hoppel
“ We all have heard the saying there ismo ‘I’ in team,”
Anderson said. “ We had a lot of individuals on last
year’ s team and this year we have a lot of team guys.
Guys that can pass the ball on to the next guy and trust
that h e’ s going to do the right th in g.”
So far, the season has been going pretty w ell for the
Cougars w ith two wins over Linfield’ s JV (8 -0 ,7-0 ) on
Feb. 24. The Cougars had Parker' Hunt, and outfielder
Grant Horwitz hom er of the weekend and are hoping
to stay aggressive according to Hoppel. *»
“ I’ve told guys I want them to swing it as hard as they
can ,” Hoppel said. “ Be sm art at the plate and on the
bases. Defense is going to be good and w e ’re going to
be aggressive. We want to make the other team play
really hard to beat u s.”
Hoppel is excited about the returning group, but
equally excited about the incomihg players. Horwitz is
a transfer from San Diego State and although he just
arrived on campus, he is excited to be at CCC and feels
like h e’s fittin g in well.
“ I w anted the chance to ju st get out on the field,
play and have fun ,” Horwitz said. “ I wanted to come
out here and form a bond with my teammates and win
some ball gam es.”
The Cougars haven’t made the playoffs since 2009,
but maybe a little team chemistry can be the factor that
makes a big difference as the Cougars w ork towards
their goal of a NWAC playoff appearance.
photos by Sam Weston
DATE
Above: Tyler Parker makes an amazing catch
against Spokane Valley on March 3.
Right: Clackamas Communi>y’s Baseball schedule.
Clackamas Print --------- ---------- - ------------
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March 7, 2018