Our off-season baseball team is preparing for the season by improving and developing their skills as individuals and as teammates while also enjoying team bonding activities. The team is practicing daily, working on their mechanics, and emphasizing on slowing the game down. Pitchers and position players are weight training three to four times a week at different times of the day. They are also scrimmaging twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays at Crean Lutheran High School. 

Evan Larsen said, “Our team has been working really hard for the upcoming season.” Head coach Joe Turgeon added, “Since we are in the middle of a facility renovation with the improvement of the grass... we have been practicing in the parking lot, batting cages and utilizing local high schools for scrimmages.” 

Blake Griffin said, “We are put into many game-like situations which will help further us prepare for the season.” 

Turgeon added, “Every year we try to implement our base foundation of our overall system in all areas in the game that will put us in the best position to be successful when the umpire says play ball.”

Larsen emphasized that, “Having a lot of new faces on the team and getting to spend time together has been great for this off season.” He added, “It has been encouraged more this year to be with each other off the field in comparison to last year with COVID-19.” Some of the field activities include frisbee golf, white elephant gift exchange, and watching play off baseball as a team. 

Griffin said, “Going to the beach and hanging out with friends is always fun for me so I make sure when I have time off of school and sports to do those things often.”

Goal oriented, organized, physical, and fast is how Turgeon, Larsen and Griffin describe the baseball team. Larsen said, “I think this team will be a very competitive team to play in the PacWest.” 

Griffin added, “The coaching staff does an amazing job at prioritizing us players and making sure we are doing the right thing in everything we do.” He continued, “The players around me have been very welcoming and have served as mentors during practice.” 

In Larsen’s free time, he “enjoys working out in the gym, golfing, surfing, and paddle boarding.” He added, “Golf is an escape away from the game and something I will play for the rest of my life.” 

Turgeon said, “The season bring a lot of hours past your normal 40-hour work week, so for me when the season is over, my focus goes into my family involvement,” and added, “Personally, if I get the chance to hit a golf club or get a fishing pole in my hand I’ll always jump at that in the off season.” Some hobbies that outfielder Nathan Benefeito enjoys during the off season are, “golfing, going to the beach, and hanging out at each other's houses.”

Both Larsen, Griffin, and Benefeito value the coaching staff and players on their team. Griffin said, “I enjoy how the coaches have a strong faith in God, they preach life advice almost every day which helps me to stay motivated.” 

Larsen said, “They are incredibly supportive of who we are outside of the baseball field as student athletes and always encourage us to represent ourselves and families at the highest level possible.” 

Benefeito concluded, “I love a lot of things about being on the CUI baseball team but one thing above all is the brotherhood.”

Tags: baseball, sports

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