April 1, 2008

JCC baseball team finding its groove

By Shonda Betz

 Staff Writer

With the baseball season underway, head coach Rick Smith remains positive that the team will become more consistent as the weather begins to cooperate.

“We need to work on getting in more non conference games,” said Smith. “It helps to develop our team as far as starting positions, batting order, strengths, pitching rotation and so on.”

Nine games were postponed at the beginning of the season, making it difficult for the team to learn each other's strengths and weaknesses.

          This is the team’s first year as members of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA). This means that the team cannot compete for league titles or awards and needs to have regularly scheduled games. 

    “Our main goal for the year is to win a conference championship and again go to Regionals to compete for a Region XII Championship to qualify for Nationals,” said Smith.

          Like everyone else, Smith and the JCC Jets are looking for better weather so that the team can keep playing consistent games.

    “We are struggling with all the games canceled but, other teams are too,” Smith said. “Nobody is injured right now and that is important to get through the season without any injuries.”

    Once the team gets some games underway in the next few weeks,Smith says “we can develop some ownership within the team and definitely some team concept.”

    Their next game will be held at 2 p.m. today (Tuesday April 1⁾ at home against Grand Rapids Community College.