That's a Roundtripper

They're back! Just a few days removed from returning from Ft. Myers, FL and the Gene Cusic Classic - the Diamond is here to recap some recent happenings. The Land of the Tan and the Home of the Gators was good to the Jackets in their time there - going 4-3 on the trip (6-3 overall). The Swarm posted wins against Wisconsin Lutheran, Mitchell College (CT) and also swept a doubleheader v. Salem State (MA) to round out their trip.

Now the tough part of the season hits - the inevitable part of college baseball in the north, known as the Meltdown. The wait has begun, the Rutt is on the verge of coming out of hibernation - but until then, we unfortunately have to settle back into our inside voices.

This is where true mental toughness is shown, it's not easy to go from sand and sun to sleet and snow - but this is where the Jackets mantra for this season comes into play, control what you can control. Batten down the [mental] hatches. It's time to get tough.

What's the Buzz?

• See a recap of DC's Spring Trip action on heartlandconf.org
• Defiance swept HCAC [Week 3] Player of the Week honors as JR RHP/DH Darin Waterman (@dwatnoshot) was recognized for his efforts on the bump while JR IF Brad Kremer (@ItsKrameTime) received the honor for this work at the plate.
• For his Spring Trip performance, Kremer was also named to the d3baseball.com Team of the Week.
• Today's (3/19) originally scheduled Home Opener v. Ohio Northern was postponed yesterday, a make-up date has yet to be announced.
• Yellow Jackets will open HCAC play this weekend (3/22 & 3/23) at home against Hanover - Game 1 first pitch is set for 4:15pm on Friday (3/22).

 

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond

Taking Things to the Next Level

Last night, Mon. March 4th - the Defiance College and Defiance High School baseball programs welcomed David Franco of Next Level Ballplayer (@The_NLB). David spoke in front of the Yellow Jacket baseball and softball teams as well as Defiance HS Head Coach Tom Held's Bulldog baseball players. The NLB program focuses particularly on the mental side of the game - as well as providing tips of the trade straight from the guys at the top. Featuring multiple interview from big league players, coaches and managers - David has quite a toolbox in his arsenal from which he can dig into.

David Franco of Next Level Ballplayer

It was great to have David on campus, listen to some of the stories he shared - including one interaction with a certain MLB manager located right here in the buckeye state! Next Level Ballplayer is information straight from the horse's mouth - a blog by ballplayers for ballplayers. 

Check out David and NLB at www.NextLevelBallplayer.com

What's the Buzz?

• The 2013 campaign kicked off this past weekend in Florence, KY with a DH v. Calvin College.
• Calvin DH Box Scores: Game 1 & Game 2
• Game 3 of the Calvin series was canceled due to particularly chilly weather conditions. So the Hardy trip home started early.
• DC is scheduled to take on Taylor University this Thursday (3/7) in Upland, IN at 3:30pm
• The Jackets will also depart for Ft. Myers, FL this Friday (3/8) and will play seven games in the Gene Cusic Classic.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond



Let Me Check My Schedule

DC Baseball's 2013 schedule was recently released and posted to the Defiance Athletics's website (@DC_Athletics). After a 2012 campaign that saw eight (8) conference wins and seven (7) of fifteen (15) conference losses determined by either one or two runs, the Swarm is visibly excited for March 1st, 2013 to finally roll around.

The Yellow Jackets' forty (40) game schedule is highlighted by seven HCAC weekend series with Hanover College*(3/22 & 3/23), Anderson University (3/29 & 3/30), College of Mount St. Joseph* (4/5& 4/6), Franklin College (4/12 & 4/13), Earlham College* (4/19 & 4/20), Rose-Hulman (4/26 & 4/27), and Transylvannia (5/3 & 5/4).

These weekend sets are offset by weekday conference contests with Bluffton University (4/2 & 4/16) and Manchester University (4/9 & 4/23).

In addition, DC will take on Calvin College, Taylor University, Ohio Northern and Trine University in non-conference bouts. For the third year in a row, the Jackets will also travel south during spring break (3/9-3/15) and compete in the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, FL.

The 2013 regular season will be capped off by the HCAC Conference Tournament, to be held May 9-12. The Conference Tournament is hosted by the team who posts the best conference record throughout the season (2012 host: Rose-Hulman).

Note: * denotes series played at The Rutt

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball