'Riders come out swinging
Written by: | 6 Mar 2009
The Roughrider baseball team began the season practicing and playing on new turf and the spring mud.
As of Feb. 28, the Roughriders were 8-2 in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) and 18-4 overall.
The Roughriders beat Eastern Arizona College twice on their own turf in Thatcher on Feb. 24. They won both games of a doubleheader and pitched a shutout for the second. They won the first game in a close 6-5 and they won the second 5-0.
The defense
This year their strength is their defense.
“Our pitching is sophomore dominated,” says Coach Sky Smeltzer. “The bullpen is end loaded.”
“I think we can do better,” says Smeltzer. “We need to tighten up infield defense.”
Last year the Roughriders won the conference, but lost in the second round of the District playoffs to Cochise College. They ended their season 42-17-1.
The outlook
Coach Smeltzer plans to develop his team’s offense.
Central Arizona College should provide the main competition. They’re ranked No.1 this year and beat the Roughriders in a round at the Junior College World Series last year.
The other teams to beat are South Mountain Community College, Pima Community College and Cochise College. There are four playoff spots in the Conference.
Smeltzer says that he plans to balance the speed and power of the offense.
Since the league changed to wood bats five years ago, players must have a game balanced with speed and power, according to Smeltzer.
When they played with metal bats Smeltzer used to focus on hitting power and have his players hit home runs to take advantage of the park.
Smeltzer says he rotates the recruiting class of players (the freshman) around between middle in-field, second base and short stop.
Rick Anton
Left-handed pitcher Rick Anton was All-American last year. He is part of the Roughrider’s sophomore dominated pitching.
“It’s a fun game,” says Anton.
Anton graduated from Prescott High School and carries a load of 18 credits at Yavapai College as well as daily baseball practice. He moved here from California four years ago.
“It’s a great place,” Anton says of Yavapai College.
“They want to develop as players; they want to get more playing time and have a better chance here…”
Anton grew up playing baseball. He played soccer for two years when he was 5 and 6 years old, “but other than that it’s been baseball,” says Anton.
Brad Johnson
Sophomore Brad Johnson plays in the outfield and catcher and carries 16 credits in school. Baseball has been his main sport since he was a child too. He used to race BMX bikes, but loves baseball.
“I love coming to the baseball field every day,” Johnson says. “I’m playing the game I love.”
Johnson will play for a team in the Northwoods League after the semester is over this year, which is part of the Summer Collegiate Baseball Association. His brother plays for the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
“It’s full-time if you want to be good,” Johnson says.
Infielder Brett Sowers and pitcher Ian Campbell both transferred to Yavapai College from other schools, according to Smeltzer. Sowers red-shirted at the University of Nebraska and Campbell was the No. 1 pitcher at Western College.
Why players come to YC
According to Smeltzer, players come to Yavapai College for a variety of reasons, including academics and athletics.
“They want to develop as players; they want to get more playing time and have a better chance here. They want to play pro sooner,” says Smeltzer.
Community college baseball players can sign after freshman or sophomore year rather than at a four-year university where students are not allowed to sign until after their junior year, according to Smeltzer.
“In 2006, after we were the National Champions, our players had about $870,000 worth of contracts,” says Smeltzer.
Seven players on the team this year were previously drafted. They chose to come to the college to learn on the baseball field and off, according to Smeltzer.
“They know that they could have a $10 an hour job after they’re done,” says Smeltzer.
A new field
The Roughrider’s baseball diamond has all new grass in the outfield and the sidelines. Landcraft Engineering and Design, Common Ground Landscape and Estancia Homebuilders contributed to the project, according to Smeltzer.
At the same time, the college put in a new irrigation system, replacing one that was 32 years old and as old as the field, according to Smeltzer.
The last home game of the season, prior to playoffs, is on April 18 against Central Arizona.
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