The foundation

We finally got to begin our team practice. It is a day I know I have been looking forward to since our last game last year.

As I stepped into Foster Field before practice began a bit of sadness came over me as I realized it was going to be the first practice I had ever had without Joe Key and Christopher Odom. Both of these guys had been with us since the first year of the program and had graduated last May. That got me to thinking about our past players and just what an incredible foundation they have set for our baseball program to build upon and achieve even more.

When we first began the baseball program I remember having several very specific goals that I thought would be essential for our program to have long-term success. They were to have an unsurpassed work ethic, be a blue collar team and to control the things we could control and not worry about the things we couldn't. All of our teams during the past five years have done a tremendous job in having all of these attributes and have done a great job of passing down to the new players each year just what it means to be a part of the Ram Baseball Program.

While we still have not accomplished our ultimate goal, which is to be National Champions, that day I know is coming and when it does arrive the players from our past are going to be just as responsible for the achievement as the players on the team that gets it done. Who knows maybe this is the year, after one day of practice I know we're a long way from getting there, but also know I'm really looking forward to the journey this team is going to take this season.