Feb. 18, 2009
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech baseball team begins the 2009 season this Friday when it opens a three-game series with Lipscomb. Every day, leading up to the first pitch, a different member of the 2009 squad has checked in with their thoughts on the upcoming season. Today’s blog is by freshman catcher Brandon Miller.
Hi Tech Fans,
Since this is my first blog (ever) and my first year in college, I thought I’d give you a little glimpse of what things have been like. If I’m honest, I have to admit that, for me, it was a little tough adjusting to the college environment. Classes were a bit more difficult than I expected them to be, especially coming from a high school atmosphere. And initially, I really didn’t know how to cope with the teachers here, since it seemed as though everything that they were saying would just go in one ear and out the other. But there is a good side to this story: the people involved with this team – from the coaches to the staff to the academic advisors to the tutors and even to the teammates – do everything humanly (and legally!) possible to help you. There is such a great support system associated with Tech’s athletic department that I never knew about until I reached campus.
But you know what, I survived my first semester and have started off strong this semester. I, along with half of this year’s freshman class, are from the Atlanta area and are ready to come out and play well for all of our family and friends in the area. Can you believe it? We are just TWO DAYS away from playing baseball. Two days away from starting my college career!
The biggest thing that I have learned on the baseball field, and the biggest different from high school to college, is that the field is not just 300 feet down the lines any more. I’ve also learned that the wind rarely blows out to left field at our park. That means that I have to really hit the ball good to get it out of Russ Chandler Stadium – it’s not a cheap shot to hit it out here.
That being said, today’s batting practice was like watching a homerun derby. The wind was blowing straight out, and Matt Skole and Jay Dantzler (batting with the composite) hit several out. I will say this: our lineup is stacked from the top of the order to the bottom with guys that can hit for average and power. Skole, Jason Haniger, and Cole Leonida have the hottest bats right now though – those three are knocking the cover off the ball, and it’s almost impossible to get them out. But I guess it’s coming at a good time, two days before the season opener.
I do want to add one note about our pitching staff – I truly believe that we have one of the strongest weekend rotations in the league. With Deck (McGuire), (Brandon) Cumpton and (Zach) Von Tersch on the mound, we should be able to hold any lineup to very few runs.
Regardless, I know that Tech fans should be ready for this coming weekend, because we are coming out strong and plan on setting the tone for the rest of the ACC.
Thanks for checking in Tech fans, and GO JACKETS!
–Brandon Miller
Past Blogs/Q&A’s:
Countdown to First Pitch: 3 days – blog by Cole Leonida
Countdown to First Pitch: 4 days – Q&A by Deck McGuire
Countdown to First Pitch: 5 days – blog by Patrick Long
Countdown to First Pitch: 6 days – blog by Kevin Jacob
Countdown to First Pitch: 7 days – Q&A by Zach Brewster
Countdown to First Pitch: 8 days – blog by Jake Davies
Countdown to First Pitch: 9 days – blog by Zach Von Tersch
Countdown to First Pitch: 10 days – blog by Thomas Nichols
Countdown to First Pitch: 11 days – Q&A by Tony Plagman
Countdown to First Pitch: 12 days – blog by Connor Winn
Countdown to First Pitch: 13 days – blog by Mark Pope
Countdown to First Pitch: 14 days – Q&A by Jeff Rowland
Countdown to First Pitch: 15 days – blog by Matt Simonds
Countdown to First Pitch: 16 days – blog by Jay Dantzler
Countdown to First Pitch: 17 days – blog by Chris House
Countdown to First Pitch: 18 days – Q&A by Jason Haniger
Countdown to First Pitch: 19 days – blog by Derek Dietrich
