Emily Leighton | Staff Writer
Preseason started for the Buena Vista University (BVU) baseball team on Sunday, Feb. 1. This team is one that knows challenges, and in past years they have overcome them. Last season, BVU was regular season and IIAC conference champions, and they also made a run in the National Tournament.
Earlier this year, D3baseball.com named junior Brandon Wessels First Team Preseason All-American. Wessels is ready to go this season, and he can’t wait to see what is in store.
“It is going to be difficult to replace the players we lost, but we have some younger players that are hungry to earn a spot this year. Coach Eddie does a great job getting the hitters prepared for the season; Coach Paletta is doing a great job getting our infielders ready to go; and Coach Sonka is helping our pitchers reach the potential they need to be at,” Wessels said.
Eric Gurbacki, one of the returning seniors, has high hopes for this team. He knows the team is going to continue to do great things.
“I don’t feel like there’s a lot of pressure on me to show the freshman the ropes. We’re all a part of the team, and we have good chemistry together,” Gurbacki said.
Head Coach Steve Eddie is very excited for this upcoming season. Last season was by far the best one yet, and he hopes to see this one to be even better.
“There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season. Our players have worked very hard during this off-season and are in great shape,” Eddie said.
Everyone knows that with a new team comes new challenges, but Coach Eddie doesn’t seem to be worried at all.
“Some would say that we have some large shoes to fill with the number of guys that completed their eligibility last season; however, I believe our returning guys are very talented and have learned how to compete on a consistent basis from those guys. Knowing our team, I don’t believe there aren’t any pressing challenges laying before us, we just have to make sure we have a consistent mind set, whether it’s at practice or a game,” Eddie said.
Past player Joe Paletta was recently named the assistant coach for the team. Paletta seems very hopeful and optimistic for this team as well. He knows what it takes to be on this team, and he is going to be there every step of the way pushing these players.
“All the guys have welcomed me as a coach. I told them at the start I believe what we do here works, and I am not going to change something that has been proven to work. In the end, this is their team, and I am here to make everything possible for them,” Paletta said.
With losing a big part of the team last year with the seniors graduating, there is a sense of loss and a hope of regrowth.
“No question they were good players, but the way they went about their business has made a tremendous impact on this year’s team. The similarities between the two teams is unbelievable. If we ever refer to last year’s team, it’s because of how they paid attention to detail in everything they did,” Eddie said.
Paletta also has words of praise for this year’s team.
“These guys understand what the standards are every year, and they have embraced it better than I have ever seen. We have great leadership on the team, and these guys know what it takes to be a great team. The guys have been reporting to the Lamberti Recreation Center every day since early January. They want it more than ever this year, and it is going to be an exciting season,” Paletta said.
Playing with last year’s seniors, Gurbacki also adds some insight for team.
“There are some key spots to fill, but I feel like all of us are ready to step up and take over,” Gurbacki said.
Everyone is geared up and ready to go for this season to begin.
“Our team focuses on one day at a time and the progress that is going to help us get ready for the next day. I believe our coaches will have us ready for the first game. We are on the right track,” Wessels said.
Everyone wants to see this team go far and see what they have in them. The Beaver baseball team takes the field starting Sunday, March 8 competing in a tournament in Arizona. Their first home series begins on Friday, Apr. 3.
