The weather is warming up and the days are getting longer, which means baseball season is on the horizon. The Tartan Pride look to build on their 2017 OCCAC championship and their #12 ranking in the preseason polls for NJCAA Division II.
Starting off at a high rank is a nod to the success that head coach Steve Dintaman has attained as the leader of the Sinclair baseball team, winning 7 of the last 9 OCCAC championships (including last season) and placing 3rd in the NJCAA College World Series in 2016.
Coach Dintaman keeps the pressure off by having the same goals year in and year out.
“There’s not really any pressure,” Dintaman said. “When guys come here now they already know the standards and the expectations. We don’t have any team meetings to discuss our goals, the goals are in stone. You know that your goal #1 is to win the conference. Your next goal is to win the regional, and since the World Series a couple years ago where we finished 3rd, the goal is to win a national championship.”
The Pride will start off the season like they usually do, traveling to Emerson, Ga. to participate in a spring training event at LakePoint Sports Complex. While there, they will also play a series against Georgia Highlands College, which is only the start of the tough schedule ahead.
“Our non-conference schedule is built pretty strong,” Dintaman said. “We start off with a ranked Georgia Highlands team, then we come home and play McHenry County from Illinois. They are ranked as well and were in the World Series with us two years ago. The following week is Kellogg. The last few years it has been between us and them to see who wins the region and goes on to the World Series.”
After that they will play Grand Rapids Community College, then start conference play. Although these are all tough opponents, the conference games are what really decide your season outcome.
“If you win the conference, you get an automatic bid. If you lose the conference, you go to a play in tournament where anything can happen,” Dintaman said.
The team comes to the plate this year with experience, having 15 sophomores and multiple returning players.
“I think we have a lot of experience,” said Dintaman. “Last year we started 8 or 9 freshman every game. This year we could start 9 sophomores potentially. On the mound we’re led by a couple returning arms, some new additions and transfer pieces.”
Among these pitchers are Kyle Ruehlman, who earned All-Region XII and All-OCCAC honors last year and was named the OCCAC Pitcher of the Year. Also returning are All-Region XII player Brandon Henson and All-OCCAC players Sean Darmafall and Jake Dennis.
The season will start on the road against Georgia Highlands College on Feb. 24, with the first home game on Feb. 27 against Ivy Tech Community College.
Paul Helmers
Sports Editor