Though
the Tejanos are a semester away from baseball season and three weeks
into baseball practice, there’s no time to lose to prepare for
their first season game on January 27, 2007 against Luna Community
College.
There are 41 players on the Tejanos team and only six of them are
returning players. Unfortunately, there will only be 25 players once
the season starts. Coaches expect 16 players will be cut off.
During
spring training every player has the chance to prove if they can hack
the rigorous physically and mental practices. They have to be strong
enough to earn a spot on the Tejanos’ roster.
Coach Hunt expects way more from his players. “I expect this
team to come out each day and do all the things that are necessary
to succeed in the classroom first and that will carry out to the field,”
said Hunt.
El
Paso Community College Tejanos head coach Shannon Hunt instructs his
players on the proper way to play in the infield. Hunt and the Tejanos
hope to improve on last season’s mediocre 26-29-1 record.
Player
must be able to balance schoolwork and baseball. Hunt is also looking
for positive attitude in chosen players. Last year was a disappointing
season for Hunt, because it was the first time in 15 years that he
didn’t make it to the playoffs.
On the other hand, he was 100 percent successful in taking all of
the nine sophomore’s players into the next level. Many of the
Tejanos were in great academic standing. Eight of the nine players
transferred into four-year universities such as Texas A&M.
Last year’s shortstop and top-hitter for the Tejanos, Hector
Bernal, was recruited to play baseball for a four-year University.
He was also drafted by the Major League’s Miluaukee Brewers.
“This year I am taking it a lot slower because of our youth.
We are younger in our minds, but we are not as mature,” said
Hunt. “We have a good bunch of kids and we are going hard on
our pitching. Experience wise, the kids have a lot to gain.”
This season’s coaching is going to be a little different. Hunt
will be in charge of the pitchers instead of the offense. Due to new
arrangement which features former Los Angeles Dodger all-star Mike
Marshall. Marshall was recently hired as the assistant coach for the
Tejanos, in charge of batting.
The Tejanos will have to improve their pitching if they expect to
contend for the Western Junior College Athletic Conference championship
in the spring. Hunt said his team should be better defensively and
will probably be much faster on the base paths.
Though their season officially begins in January, the Tejanos are
playing a fall schedule which gets underway Sept. 24 when they host
New Mexico Military Institute.
The Tejanos have evolved into a close-knit group, and they will have
to remain close to remain competitive.
“This is a team effort, it takes more than one,” Hunt
said.
