Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders Excited to Start Fall Ball Monday
9/18/2016 12:16:00 PM | Baseball
First Practice is set for Monday at 2 pm, First scrimmage Friday at 3 pm.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After weeks of individual workouts to start the school year, the Middle Tennessee baseball team is set to officially start fall practice Monday.
The team will practice through September and October, capped by the five game Blue-White World Series beginning Oct. 21.
Middle Tennessee's first fall scrimmage is Friday at 3 p.m., and the Blue Raiders will have another scrimmage Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. at Reese Smith Jr., Field. All practices, scrimmages, and Blue White World Series games are open to the public.
The team's first month of the school year has been individualized workouts and Head Coach Jim McGuire is looking forward to seeing the team dynamic come together in fall practice.
"The thing I'm looking forward to the most is that I've seen the individual improvement, whether it's in the bullpen, batting practice, or groundball work," McGuire said. "Now it's time to see the improvement as a team and as a group together."
The team returns 28 players from last year's team, mixed with eight newcomers. The abundance of experience will make for a different fall from last year.
"There are so many returning guys, whereas last year everyone was new, now this year it's the other way around and we have more experience, "McGuire stated. "Everyone should know where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do and help the new guys get mixed in."
There will be multiple position competitions this fall, specifically in the outfield. There were five guys that saw significant time in the outfield for the Blue Raiders last year and only three spots available, which will magnify the importance of players' performances in the fall.
"There's going to be a lot of competition all over the place. In the outfield we are very deep, we are deep behind the plate, so that's where there is going to be a lot of competition. It is who's going to rise to the top in those spots?" McGuire said. "Really we have five guys in the outfield and only three can play, so somebody's got to go to DH, or somebody's got to go to a different position."
The Blue Raiders are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2016 season, and with the wealth of experience Middle Tennessee should show out in the fall.
"We're excited to get started, we're stronger and quicker. I think we're a year older and a year better," concluded McGuire.
2016 Fall Scrimmage Schedule (All practices and scrimmages open to the public)
Sept. 19 2 PM (First Day of Team Practice)
Sept. 23 3 PM
Sept. 25 2 PM
Sept. 30 3 PM
Oct. 1 1 PM
Oct. 2 2 PM
Oct. 6 3 PM
Oct. 7 3 PM
Oct. 13 3 PM
Oct. 14 3 PM
Oct. 17 3:30 PM*
Oct. 21 3 PM!
Oct. 22 1 PM@
Oct. 24 3 PM#
Oct. 28 3 PM$
Oct. 29 1 PM%
* - Scout Day will precede scrimmage
! – Blue-White World Series Game 1
@ - Blue-White World Series Game 2
# - Blue-White World Series Game 3
$ - Blue-White World Series Game 4
% - Blue-White World Series Game 5
The team will practice through September and October, capped by the five game Blue-White World Series beginning Oct. 21.
Middle Tennessee's first fall scrimmage is Friday at 3 p.m., and the Blue Raiders will have another scrimmage Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. at Reese Smith Jr., Field. All practices, scrimmages, and Blue White World Series games are open to the public.
The team's first month of the school year has been individualized workouts and Head Coach Jim McGuire is looking forward to seeing the team dynamic come together in fall practice.
"The thing I'm looking forward to the most is that I've seen the individual improvement, whether it's in the bullpen, batting practice, or groundball work," McGuire said. "Now it's time to see the improvement as a team and as a group together."
The team returns 28 players from last year's team, mixed with eight newcomers. The abundance of experience will make for a different fall from last year.
"There are so many returning guys, whereas last year everyone was new, now this year it's the other way around and we have more experience, "McGuire stated. "Everyone should know where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do and help the new guys get mixed in."
There will be multiple position competitions this fall, specifically in the outfield. There were five guys that saw significant time in the outfield for the Blue Raiders last year and only three spots available, which will magnify the importance of players' performances in the fall.
"There's going to be a lot of competition all over the place. In the outfield we are very deep, we are deep behind the plate, so that's where there is going to be a lot of competition. It is who's going to rise to the top in those spots?" McGuire said. "Really we have five guys in the outfield and only three can play, so somebody's got to go to DH, or somebody's got to go to a different position."
The Blue Raiders are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2016 season, and with the wealth of experience Middle Tennessee should show out in the fall.
"We're excited to get started, we're stronger and quicker. I think we're a year older and a year better," concluded McGuire.
2016 Fall Scrimmage Schedule (All practices and scrimmages open to the public)
Sept. 19 2 PM (First Day of Team Practice)
Sept. 23 3 PM
Sept. 25 2 PM
Sept. 30 3 PM
Oct. 1 1 PM
Oct. 2 2 PM
Oct. 6 3 PM
Oct. 7 3 PM
Oct. 13 3 PM
Oct. 14 3 PM
Oct. 17 3:30 PM*
Oct. 21 3 PM!
Oct. 22 1 PM@
Oct. 24 3 PM#
Oct. 28 3 PM$
Oct. 29 1 PM%
* - Scout Day will precede scrimmage
! – Blue-White World Series Game 1
@ - Blue-White World Series Game 2
# - Blue-White World Series Game 3
$ - Blue-White World Series Game 4
% - Blue-White World Series Game 5
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