We have finally moved in to the new Boshamer Stadium! No more dirty visitor football locker rooms, soapless showers or 30 minute drives to Cary. Today we packed up our belongings (in a trash bag, but it was Carolina blue) and settled in to our own locker room. The weight room and players lounge have been completed for the most part, with 52-inch flat screen TVs plastered everywhere. Not to mention that every weight has a UNC logo engraved on it. Yes, ladies and gentleman, we are spoiled.
As for on the field, this past week we earned our first win plus three more. It was exciting to see the fan turnout for the first game, especially with it being so cold outside. I have been told that this year's student section is cleverly referred to as the "Bosh Pit". We also suffered our first loss this week. Losing hurts, but unlike football, going undefeated in baseball is almost impossible. There are so many games that you are going to lose some, we just weren't ready to lose our first game in the first week. But as many before me have noted, a team is defined by how they respond to failure. And we came out the next day and picked up the win against Liberty.
For those of you who have been to a game already this season, you may have noted that we have attempted to start a new tradition. Before the team takes the field, the whole team huddles up and what you may not see is Tyson Lusk, one of our wonderful student managers, gets in the middle and gives us a pregame pep talk at the top of his lungs while turning red in the face. I have known Tyson since my freshman year and he is very intelligent. But, what he says during these short speeches is still unknown to me. I believe I heard something about the other team representing the devil with a key and we needed to get the key back or something like that. But anyways, it is a good way to start off the game.
I'll leave you with a few interesting tidbits I learned or was reminded of throughout this week. As a starting pitcher, you only play once a week, so we have plenty of interesting conversations and debates. I have not checked on these rules in the "official" rulebook, but they have been confirmed through reliable sources.
1. There is no 45 degree rule for lefties to determine a balk on their pickoff move. The move has to be more towards first than home, which is why the mystical 45 degree line is taught for lefties.
2. A pitcher can get a save if they pitch the last three innings of a game that your team is winning, even if the score is 100 to 0.
3. Tomorrow's pitching matchup is White vs. Black. Good vs. Evil? Just kidding, but it is pretty neat.
As for on the field, this past week we earned our first win plus three more. It was exciting to see the fan turnout for the first game, especially with it being so cold outside. I have been told that this year's student section is cleverly referred to as the "Bosh Pit". We also suffered our first loss this week. Losing hurts, but unlike football, going undefeated in baseball is almost impossible. There are so many games that you are going to lose some, we just weren't ready to lose our first game in the first week. But as many before me have noted, a team is defined by how they respond to failure. And we came out the next day and picked up the win against Liberty.
For those of you who have been to a game already this season, you may have noted that we have attempted to start a new tradition. Before the team takes the field, the whole team huddles up and what you may not see is Tyson Lusk, one of our wonderful student managers, gets in the middle and gives us a pregame pep talk at the top of his lungs while turning red in the face. I have known Tyson since my freshman year and he is very intelligent. But, what he says during these short speeches is still unknown to me. I believe I heard something about the other team representing the devil with a key and we needed to get the key back or something like that. But anyways, it is a good way to start off the game.
I'll leave you with a few interesting tidbits I learned or was reminded of throughout this week. As a starting pitcher, you only play once a week, so we have plenty of interesting conversations and debates. I have not checked on these rules in the "official" rulebook, but they have been confirmed through reliable sources.
1. There is no 45 degree rule for lefties to determine a balk on their pickoff move. The move has to be more towards first than home, which is why the mystical 45 degree line is taught for lefties.
2. A pitcher can get a save if they pitch the last three innings of a game that your team is winning, even if the score is 100 to 0.
3. Tomorrow's pitching matchup is White vs. Black. Good vs. Evil? Just kidding, but it is pretty neat.
