The baseball team has been making waves this season, showcasing their balance of individual talent and collective camaraderie. With a current conference record of 10-10, the Golden Eagles have exemplified resilience, determination and a strong sense of unity, which has pushed them towards the possibility of clinching a spot in the PacWest Conference Playoffs in May.

The remarkable performances of the individual players on the team has contributed to the Golden Eagles’ successes this season. Jake Covey, a pitcher and junior on the team, was named 2024 NCAA DII pitcher of the week. Covey currently has 51 strike outs, nine earned runs and 1.96 ERA. Covey said, “I feel my performance directly reflects the preparation I do, and the dedication to my team and personal growth.”

Demonstrating precision and control on the mound, Covey said, “I stay focused by understanding that getting caught up when something doesn’t go my way only guarantees that the next thing won’t go my way either. If you want to be successful, you can’t lose sight of what’s next because of what just happened. Maintaining that frame of mind is what helps me stay competitive for each pitch no matter the situation.” 

Covey added that it is important to not be afraid of failure, on and off the field. He said, “There’s a reason you are in that critical moment. You’ve earned the right to be there, so you don’t have to do anything extra; you just have to find a way to be yourself.”

Isaiah Walz, a shortstop and freshman on the team, has demonstrated maturity and determination throughout the season. Walz said, “I am always trying to bring the energy in the dugout and on the field, executing the play and at times sacrificing myself for the team to get the run.”

“Being a freshman, I have faced adversity a lot, and at times struggled with it,” said Walz. The newcomer to the team shared how he makes adjustments to his mindset in order to contribute to the team’s goals, on and off the field. “I make sure to adjust and put in that extra work to eliminate what hasn’t been working for me, whether it’s in the classroom or on the field.”

The heart of the team’s success this season has been their shared culture of unity and support for one another. Mike Dixon, an outfielder and senior on the team, said, “Baseball is a team sport, and every hit or run scored results from the team's collective effort. We have a tight-knit group of players who are skilled individually and work seamlessly together on the field.”

Dixon has exhibited leadership qualities through open communication and stressing the importance of synergy with his teammates. Dixon added, “I constantly emphasize the importance of unity, resilience and unwavering determination. I remind my teammates that our success depends on our ability to work together, overcome obstacles and always keep sight of our goals. By staying committed to each other and maintaining a positive mindset, we can achieve anything we set our minds to.”

Walz said, “Being that young player on the field, I have learned from the older guys that things aren’t always going to go my way. Failing is a big part of learning, and I need to play my game.” He highlighted that the sense of brotherhood on the team strengthens their game and mentality.

Looking ahead, the Golden Eagles are learning from their setbacks as they strive towards the conference playoffs. Covey said, “I believe we all, myself included, need to work on our consistency. The majority of the games we have lost are games where we beat ourselves through easy mistakes, which our opponents capitalized on. I genuinely believe if we take care of our business, control the things that we can control, we are a very hard team to beat.”

 “Our goal remains unchanged as a team,” said Dixon. “That goal is to give our all in every game, continue improving, and ultimately make a strong push towards the conference playoffs.”

The Golden Eagles’ next game is on their home turf today. This will be a doubleheader against Hawai’i Pacific. The first game will begin at 2 p.m. followed by the second matchup at 5:30 p.m. Follow @cuibaseball and @cuigoldeneagles on Instagram to keep up with the latest updates. To stream the live games, visit cuigoldeneagles.com.

Tags: baseball

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