For Northwestern students, February means mid-terms, snow and cold weather. For NU’s baseball team, this time of the year signifies the beginning of the season.
The Wildcats will commence their 2003 campaign this week with four games at the Arizona Invitational in Phoenix. NU, which has eight returning starters, will open Thursday against Mountain West Conference opponent Brigham Young (1-5). They’ll play two games against Missouri (2-1) and one against Cal Poly (5-4) over the weekend.
Although they’ll take to the diamond Thursday, NU’s baseball team hasn’t held an outdoor practice this season. Evanston’s chilly winter weather forces the Cats to practice inside on the artificial turf of Trienens Hall.
“We can’t wait to go outside,” NU coach Paul Stevens said. “We’re going stir crazy inside a little bit. The guys are excited to take it from the refrigerator to the frying pan.”
The Cats work on their baseball skills inside, but said they realize that their trip to Arizona will be a different experience.
“We’ve been throwing and hitting in the cages,” senior outfielder Brandon Ackley said. “But a lot of things are more realistic and better outside.”
On opening day the squad will take its usual batting and fielding practice. But Stevens, who just wants his team to “tee it up and play,” said he will not hold a full practice before the first game.
“The first day there is enough enthusiasm that I want to see if we can take some of that and take it into the right direction,” he said.
Despite their lack of practice, Ackley said he thinks his team will be fine once the first pitch is thrown.
“It all comes back to you,” he said.
NU’s hitters will be at a bit of a disadvantage in Arizona. At the beginning of the season, pitchers tend to dominate hitters who haven’t faced live pitching in game situations. Even though NU’s players have spent some time in the indoor batting cage, they’ll need a few weeks to re-acclimate themselves.
While NU’s pitchers should have a similar advantage, all three of the Cats’ opponents have already begun their seasons.
“I don’t care about excuses,” Stevens said. “All I know is that we have games and they count. It’s about pitchers throwing strikes and hitters finding a way to put the ball in play.”
NU is looking to build on last season’s success, when they finished third at the Big Ten Tournament. In the process, they knocked off No. 1-seed Minnesota and No. 3-seed Michigan State.
This year, the Cats will play 25 games in warmer climates before they return to Evanston for their first homestand on April 11. Not only are the players looking forward to winning some baseball games, but they’re also expecting to enjoy their warm weather roadtrips.
“We want to get out of this snow,” Ackley said.
NU at Arizona Invitational
Thursday through Sunday
Papago Park, Phoenix
