Countdown to First Pitch

Feb. 22, 2008

The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Miami baseball team opens the 2008 season this Friday Feb. 22 against Cincinnati. A countdown to the first pitch has begun. For the next few days UM players will blog about the upcoming season. Today’s blog is by junior right fielder Dennis Raben.

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Hey everyone, this is Dennis Raben – Miami Hurricane right fielder. The season starts tomorrow. We had our last practice today before the season starts. We just tried to tighten up on the little things that help you win ball games and we went over some defensive stuff – some certain situations that might come up. We took some light BP.

You know it was just an easy day, reviewing a bunch of stuff getting ready for the season tomorrow. The team is excited. The coaches are excited. Everybody feels like we got a really good team. We have a real good chance to get back to Omaha. We’re looking forward to starting that journey tomorrow night against Cincinnati.

Cincinnati has a good left-handed pitcher on the mound. We got to jump up on them early and set the tone for the whole weekend tomorrow night. Every one is confident and ready to go. It’s been a long off-season after the loss in Columbia (Mo.) last year and a long fall, but we’re ready to go.