Countdown to First Pitch
Feb. 22, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla (www.hurricanesports.com) – The Miami baseball team opens the 2008 season tonight, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. against Cincinnati. A countdown to the first pitch is underway. For the last few days UM players have been doing a blog about the upcoming season. Today’s blog is by junior second baseman Jemile Weeks.
It’s finally gameday. I’m looking forward to a good game. This year, I think we are going to do real well. We got a strong team. We have a lot of returning guys, strong juniors, like myself, Dennis Raben, Blake Tekotte and Yonder Alonso.
We have a great cast of guys – a great team. I feel like this is going to be one season where not only are we just saying we going to go to Omaha and the championship game, but we I think we all believe that we can make it to the championship game and win it all.
We have to get to the field today to do our bunting at 3 o’clock. BP (batting practice) is at 4:50. It’s a long day, but we are going to get at it, and handle business like we know we can.
We have a lot of expectations this season, especially out of the young guys – young starting pitchers like Chris Hernandez, John Housey and Mike Rudman. I just feel like those guys are going to step up big time.
I like our chances against a lot of the teams in the ACC. We’ve had strong chemistry over the fall and the spring. We put so much work in this year already. I think all the guys have come together. We have had a lot of practices where we have put in a crazy amount of time, putting a lot of time in on defense, different strategies like bunt defenses. So, I mean with all the work we have put in and the determination – with everybody coming off good summers, everybody coming back healthy – I think this is going to be a season to remember.
The chance is out there. It is just up to us to go out there and get it done. With the support of the fans that was shown at the banquet, I just think it is going to be a great day for UM baseball. We are trying to keep the tradition alive out here, and go and win the national championship for everybody. Thanks and see you this weekend!
