Last spring the SRJC men’s baseball team finished fourth in the Big 8 Conference, ending the season with a 19-15 record and sitting out the playoffs for the second straight year. It comes as no surprise that making the playoffs is atop the list of expectations for SRJC head coach Damon Neidlinger’s for the 2011 season.
“It’s a step-by-step process [making the playoffs]. We won the State Championship in 2005, and once you have done that, your goal is to always get back there,” coach Neidlinger said.
Although it is very early in the season, indications point towards success for the Bear Cubs. Ranked no.16 in a pre-season coaches poll prior to last weeks games, SRJC defeated a very athletic no. 3 ranked Chabot team twice to kick-off the season. Sophomore pitcher Jon Flinn stepped-up big in Thursday’s game going eight strong innings and only giving up two hits in the Bear Cubs 6-1 win. Flinn, a 6-foot-5-inch, 225-pound right-hander from Cardinal Newman was named the ace after the departure of last year’s one-starter Gavin Mills. Freshman Wesley Deal, the number two starter for SRJC, contributed a solid outing on Saturday, helping the Bear Cubs to a 11-5 win.
The question remains: who will step-up and be the third-man in the starting pitching rotation. Pitching depth will be tested early for the Bear Cubs. With a competitive league from top to bottom, coach Neidlinger suspects the team will know where they rank based on the first few weeks of games. “We have a number of guys that on any given day could be that guy that makes a difference in your team winning,” coach Neidlinger said. This Thursday the Bear Cubs are on the road against the defending state-champions Ohlone followed the next day by a match-up against a revamped Mission team at home.
One thing the Bear Cubs don’t have to worry about is the depth in position players. With a flexible roster, SRJC can adjust their line-up to adapt to any opponents style of play. Whether the team needs a line-up with quickness or physicality, having those options available provides the Bear Cubs with an advantage and gives them a chance to win versus any opponent.
Run support should not be an issue going by the first two games. Marcus Kimura, Chris Bradshaw and Jayce Rice all had batting averages over .300 last season and look to be starting where they left off.
After a January of double-days and hours spent on the field practicing, coach Neidlinger has surrounded himself with an experienced team that knows him well. Coach admits his demanding nature as a coach sometimes gets in the way, but at the end of the day it’s about trust. “My job is to teach them, but sometimes it’s also a coach’s job to let them play,” coach Neidlinger said. “They [the team] have worked exceptionally hard, and their attitudes show it.”