Baseball team uses GLVC preseason poll as motivation for improvement

The last year the Truman State baseball team was ranked higher than 11th in the pre-season GLVC rankings was 2016, marking a decade of anticipated underperforming seasons for the Bulldogs. This year’s poll proves no different, with the latest preseason poll having the Bulldogs ranked 14th out of 15 teams. However, the team is planning to use the poll ranking as motivation for a successful season.

Low rankings in the preseason poll are not unfamiliar to the Bulldogs, but Coach Dan Davis said he is anticipating that this season may be different. Between junior college additions, new freshmen and a different mindset, the team may see a dramatic change in team dynamics. Senior pitcher Isaac Epp shared the team’s mentality has shifted to collaboration and a positive outlook this year.

“I’d say it’s the closeness between the team,” Epp said. “I mean, throughout my years, we’ve all been close, but I feel like there’ve been a couple of those guys that are a little negative when the season comes around. But I feel like this year everyone’s really bought into what we’re trying to do.” 

Both Epp and Davis said the poor ranking this season seems to have only motivated the team in terms of bringing the team together to prove the polling rankings wrong. Davis emphasized the importance of the poll as motivation rather than dejection.

 “If anything, you almost use it as locker room wallpaper,” Davis said. “You know, like, ‘hey, don’t forget this is what people think of you,’ and you have an opportunity to prove them wrong.”

 According to Davis, the main goal for the baseball team this year is to make the GLVC tournament, which would mark progress for the program, as they have not made the tournament since 2015.

In the list of changes Davis wants to implement, he plans to make the playing style more aggressive on the bases. The team seems optimistic about this year’s changes instituted by Davis and the team’s attitude. Between Epp, Davis and Freshman outfielder Tyler Towe, the consensus is that the team will be full of energy and excited to showcase an elevated performance on the diamond.

 “I think you’ll notice a lot more energy than these past teams… We like to run the bases really aggressively, just kind of cause chaos,” Towe said. “It’s really fun to watch, and I think it’ll be a lot different than past teams.” 

The Bulldogs have a renewed optimism for this season. This season is a potential turning point for the program with these anticipated changes, as evident by the previous 3-1 game against Northeastern State University on Feb. 13 and Feb. 15. The home opener is Feb. 20 against the Parkside Rangers and will display the potential progress of the team. 

https://glvcsports.com/sports/2008/1/31/base_archive.aspx?path=baseball