BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team returned to Nick Denes Field to prepare for its first season under head coach Matt Myers and quest for its first NCAA appearance since 2009.
"It has been good," WKU assistant coach Blake Allen said. "Coach Myers has got the guys fired up, a lot of new faces. The energy has been exceptional so far. It is early so that is usually the case but I think with this group they enjoy playing with each other and they are all on a mission to try to win a Sun Belt Conference championship and so far, so good."
Fall practice enters its second week for the Hilltoppers, who will look to build on the success of the last few seasons into the upcoming 2012 campaign. The squad spent a few weeks in the instructional period of practice and moved into the team portion on September 29. The coaches will get a look at how things are progressing as they team takes to the diamond in their first scrimmage on Friday.
"I think it has just been the little things, doing the little things really, really well," Allen said. "Offensively, it's really, really focusing on the short game; butting, hit and run, doing the little things that are going to help you win ballgames. Coach Myers focus has been a lot of unselfish things offensively that you can do to help us win games. We'll jump into a scrimmage Friday and it will be interesting to see how it goes and go from there."
The Hilltoppers open fall practice with not only a few head coach, but new assistant coaches in Brendan Dougherty and Jeff Mercer. The new staff is ready to work together to get the 2012 Hilltoppers ready for a run to a Sun Belt Conference title, especially Dougherty.
"His knowledge is unbelievable, his energy, his passion," Allen said. "The guys were joking around the other day saying that we have one of the most energetic staffs in the country probably and I would agree with that. We have fun out there. We enjoy working together as a staff and with what he has brought to the table in terms of his knowledge and experience, he knows how to win, he has been with winning programs and that positive energy has been a huge addition to our program."
Also new to fans this season are 13 newcomers to the WKU roster. With eight true freshman and five junior-college transfers, there is plenty of reason to be excited about what the future holds for the Hilltoppers.
"Hang in there," Allen said. "Be patience because they are young and they're new but I think what you will see is what Coach Myers has been stressing all along. We are going to put a product on the field that is going to be fun to watch, play with a lot of energy, go 110% on every play and it is going to make parents want to bring their sons and daughters to the games, to watch us play because we are going to play the game the right way."
The practice plan will be adapted during team practice throughout the month of October, before the HIlltoppers play the Fall World Series to conclude the fall practice. The World Series is slated to run Thursday, Nov. 3 through Saturday, Nov. 5 at Nick Denes Field. Times will be announced at a later date.
