The Sinclair Pride baseball team starts practice this month and head coach Steve Dintaman says the Pride should be one of the best teams they have ever put on the field.
Dintaman was a former player and assistant under former Pride head coach Mike Goldschmidt. Dintaman was named head coach in Aug. 2007 after Goldschmidt took the Urbana head coaching position.
“We have a good core of good character guys,” says Dintaman. “I think this team will be probably one of the most enjoyable teams I’ve been around.”
With eight players returning, Sinclair’s leadership and depth becomes an asset. Pride players selected four captains for the 2009 season: outfielder Dan Marsh, pitcher Kyle Hopwood, infielder Taylor Hoisington and first baseman Ricky Masson.
“The strength, besides having good character guys, is our leadership in our sophomore position players,” says Dintaman.
Dintaman says that there is a lot of guys who can contribute right away and that his freshman pitching class is the most talented to ever arrive at Sinclair.
Last season, the Pride finished with a 24-18 record and a trip to the NJCAA Region 12 Tournament.
According to Dintaman, the Pride will open their season on Feb. 22, but that is subject to change.
More information can be found on the Sinclair Pride at www.eteamz.com/SCC