3/11/2008 - Roadrunner Baseball Opening Conference Play
Angelina College coaches Jeff Livin and Rich Martinez have had exactly
19 games to evaluate their Roadrunner baseball team.
So far, they have to like what they’ve seen.
After posting a 10-7-2 record in non-conference games, the ‘Runners
open league play today with an afternoon doubleheader in Paris. And
for a team that entered the new season with more questions than
answers, exam time begins right now.
“The team as a whole is starting to play a lot better now,” Livin said
during Tuesday’s practice session. “Offensively we’re executing our
plan very well, and the pitching staff is coming around and beginning
to establish itself with some quality starters.
“If there’s a concern, it’s just our depth on the mound. We’re solid
in a lot of positions, but we’re still a little thin there.”
AC opened the year with a pitching staff that held just two names as
virtual locks for starting roles: Sophomores Frank Corolla and Jason
Gurka had proven themselves in game situations.
Since then, Corey Benevides and Trey Rackel have emerged as solid
hurlers, giving the Roadrunners the necessary four-man rotation
heading into Region XIV play.
“(Benevides) has been a real pleasant surprise, considering that he
didn’t have a lot of experience at this level,” Livin said. “But he’s
doing a great job, which just goes to show that good athletes who are
willing to work hard find a way to get things done.”
Rackel also earned Livin’s praise, fighting through an injury that
plagued him in the fall and rebounding with some quality innings.
Gurka, the hard-throwing lefty, has also battled some nagging injuries
– a factor that hit a few of the Roadrunners earlier but doesn’t seem
to hold any real significance at this point.
“As weird as it sounds, these rainouts in the past couple of weeks
have been a blessing in disguise,” Livin said. “We had guys with sore
arms and other aggravations, and the time off has done them some
good.”
Offensively, it’s hard to imagine a team producing much more than the
current Roadrunner lineup. AC currently boasts a whopping .332 team
batting average, and it remains what Livin calls “one of the most
versatile lineups I’ve ever had as a coach.” Keith Prestridge leads
the league in hitting, with his average hovering just above .500.
Prestridge also leads the team in RBIs and stolen bases.
Right behind him is Matt Thielepape, who’s knocked in 14 runs and is
hitting .408 with two homers. Austin Lasprilla, one of the big
surprises – he wasn’t expected to hit for power – has five homers to
his credit; and Chris Andreas has blasted four, including his
over-the-gym-in-right field bomb last month.
With everything seeming to come together at the right time for the
Roadrunners, the question now remains as to the level of competition
they’ll face during the conference schedule. Region XIV has long been
recognized as one of the toughest baseball conferences in the nation,
and this year promises to be no different. AC’s opponent in today’s
twin bill, the Paris Dragons (16-6), carry a pitching rotation Livin
says is reminiscent of his 2006-2007 staff: Solid, reliable, and able
to keep the opponent’s run scoring to a minimum.
That should make today’s action a real challenge for both teams. Can
the Roadrunners keep up their torrid hitting against a good pitching
staff? Or will good pitching beat good hitting, as it often does in
baseball?
Those are the types of questions that only get answered on the field.
First pitch for today’s games is 12 p.m. J.P. Heath will have the
radio play-by-play on ESPN 1260 AM.
