STORY AND PHOTO BY JONATHAN SINTORA, STAFF WRITER
As the Chargers prepare for Orange Empire Conference play, coaches and players weigh in on the upcoming season. With less than a month away, the Chargers are optimistic that great things are ahead as the season progresses.
Over the last four games, the Chargers outscored their opponents (Pasadena City, Chaffey, and Folsom Lake) 49 to 31, racking up four wins in the process. Following the Chargers’ recent offensive success, Head Coach Anthony Hutting noted, “Our guys are doing a good job focusing on taking quality at-bats. We’ve been really productive and we’re going to try to sustain that momentum offensively.”
Despite the Chargers’ recent offensive success, Hutting stressed that there is still room for improvement on the mound. In response to the team’s pitching concerns, Hutting said, “We’ve given up a few more runs than we’d like to, we haven’t thrown quite as many strikes as we’d like to.”
Hutting also attributed the pitching struggles to the staff’s lack of experience at the college level. Early into the pre-season, Hutting described the situation, and said, “There’s a lot of guys who are just getting their first couple outings under their belt. Getting their feet wet at this level.” Ultimately, Hutting ensured that these struggles were expected to improve over time.
With the team’s sights set on another busy week, Hutting hopes his returning players will step up and help mentor the team’s young, new core. Sophomore Jack Pavlovsky explains his role as “…super important…I like to lead by example. Show them how to work hard. Show them how to work the right way.”
Charger of the Week, Freshman Evan Rolbiecki, expressed the importance of learning from his veteran teammates. After coming off a home run against Folsom Lake, Rolbiecki gave his thoughts on the offense and said, “We’ve got a ton of talented guys. For me, it takes a lot of pressure off me and I can relax and focus on my game.”
As the team prepares for conference play, Hutting gave the Chargers a statement of optimism. Hutting expressed, “Fans should see a team that is fundamentally sound, exciting to watch, and plays the game the right way… It’s going to be an exciting brand of baseball that represents the college the right way.”
The Chargers begin Orange Empire Conference play on Tuesday, March 5th at Santa Ana, followed by their home opener on Thursday, March 7th.
