The most treacherous part of the winter season has already hit Duluth, but that hasn't stopped the University of Minnesota Duluth baseball squad from starting practice for the upcoming season.
Last Wednesday (Jan. 14) was the official commencement of the 2009 campaign for head coach Bob Rients and the rest of the Bulldog hardballers. Daily practices are taking place in the Ward Wells Fieldhouse on the UMD campus, all in preparation for the team's first match-up of the year on Feb. 7 against the University of Mary at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
"Our focus is on the mental side of the game and being more aggressive," said Rients about the team's practices leading up to the non-conference doubleheader in Minneapolis. "One thing we can control is our effort."
The rapidly approaching date is the second-earliest start to a season for the Bulldog nine in school history, with the 2008 squad owning that distinction (they beat Rockhurst University 1-0 on Feb. 1, 2008 in Minneapolis).
The 2009 team is led by senior co-captains Cole Hytjan and David Olson, both of whom were All-North Central Conference picks from a year ago after stellar seasons on the mound, and at the plate, respectively. Each are first-time captains, and are adjusting their leadership styles accordingly.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Last year I just went out there and did my own thing" said Hytjan, who led by example -- he paced the Bulldog pitching staff with a 4-1 overall record along with a 2.76 earned run average. "I'm definitely taking a different approach this year."
Olson, who led UMD batters in multiple offensive categories in 2008 (including games played, games started, batting average, hits, doubles, triples, total bases and slugging percentage), likes the way the first portion of the schedule plays out for the Bulldogs.
"It's a great set up," the Lakeville, Minn., native said. "If we get a win, it boosts morale and we will have two weeks of good practice before our next game [Feb. 20]."
The Bulldogs, who went 20-25 overall last season, including a 6-14 record in their final year of play in the now-defunct North Central Conference, sport 18 returning letter winners from last year's crew and welcome 13 freshmen to the mix this season.
-- UMD press release
