SBCC was the state leader with 56 home runs in baseball last season. The long ball will be tougher to come by in 2011, though, with the introduction of less-potent aluminum bats.
“They took 30 percent out of the bats and it’s almost like swinging a wood bat,” said Tommy White, who moved from left field back to his natural position of catcher. “There’s only a little bit of a sweet spot now.”
White, a sophomore from Scottsdale, Ariz., posted the second-highest batting average in school history last year at .424. SBCC was 20-16 a year ago and tied for third in the tough WSC North with a 10-10 record.
The Vaqueros make their season debut on Friday with a 2 p.m. home game against Cabrillo at Pershing Park. The same teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.
Sophomore left-handers Kylin Turnbull and Jacob Dexter are slated to start on Saturday.
Ryan Thompson, a former multi-sport star at Dos Pueblos High, begins his first year as SBCC’s head coach.
“The new bats are going to take 25 or 30 feet off solid hits,” said Thompson. “I don’t care if we lead the state in homers. I want to lead the state in fielding percentage. It’s going to play right into our hands.
“We want to pitch and play defense with the best of them. We’ll be in any ball game, if we scrap together one or two runs. We’re going to be just fine.”
White, first baseball Daniel Howell, second baseman Zach Pecyna and right fielder Chito Elias are returnees who are slated to start on Friday. Howell, who stands 6-4 and weighs 220, hit 10 homers with 28 RBIs last year. He’s the son of former Major Leaguer Roy Howell.
Other projected starters are Northern Colorado transfer Shay Maltese, a defensive whiz at shortstop; Pat Cavalier of San Marcos High at third; Robert Vickers in left field; Cody Giordano in center and Joey Epperson at designated hitter.
Vickers is a former Dos Pueblos High standout who played for Canyons last year and Giordano is an “absolute speedster,” according to Thompson. Colt McLaughlin, a transfer from Hancock, and Epperson could also see time in the outfield.
Thompson will also be counting on relievers DJ Gunderson and Tim Alvarez.
“We can flat-out pitch and play defense,” declared Thompson, an assistant coach at Cuesta from 2004-08. “I told the guys to expect a lot of 3-1, 4-1 and 5-2 games. That’s our goal. Mentally, you’re much more into those games. When you win close ones, it shows you have a little intestinal fortitude.
“Our goal is to be able to pitch and play defense with anyone in the state.”
The WSC North was ranked No. 2 in the conference RPI rankings last year. SBCC was ranked 10th in Southern Cal in the preseason. Hancock was fifth, Cuesta eighth and defending WSC North champion Oxnard was ninth.
“We have to try and stay healthy and execute,” said Thompson. “If we can keep ourselves within one or two runs, this team will find a way to score some runs. And our pitching staff will be able to pitch with anyone.”
