University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Fall Ball Recap: Week 1
9/28/2018 2:25:00 PM | Baseball
Panthers Open Up Fall Practice
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team wrapped up week one of fall ball Friday afternoon at Charles L. Cost Field as the Panthers prepare for the 2019 campaign.
The season ushers in the first for newly appointed head coach Mike Bell, who was introduced by Director of Athletics Heather Lyke on July 13. Bell joins the Panthers after a seven-year stint as the associate head coach and pitching coach at ACC powerhouse Florida State. Bell brings more than 14 years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to the Panthers and is just the fifth head coach in Pitt baseball history.
The Panthers took to the field as a full team for the first time Monday afternoon, competing in individual and team drills throughout the week, capped off by a pair of intrasquad scrimmages Thursday and Friday.
Senior Catcher Cole MacLaren
On the excitement of getting out on the field for fall ball…
"It was awesome, even given the weather circumstances. It was a very nice day, but it was good to get out here as a full team now. Guys are eager, we've got fire and it was great to be out here today."
On helping the younger players adapt…
"I kind of take that upon myself to help these guys through what they need to get through, whether that's in the classroom or if it's on the field. It's whatever they need help with. The older guys are here to guide them and show them the path to success and to win on the baseball field."
On adapting to a new coaching staff…
"First and foremost, some guys have to get healthy. We have some pretty key guys that are on the DL right now, but other than that we're all trying to get used to each other a little bit, but it's early. We're all working together and working hard, it'll be good."
Junior Outfielder Nico Popa
On the energy level around practice…
"It's awesome to be out here for a full team practice and it's great with all of the new energy that these coaches are bringing."
On being back on the field after last year's season-ending injury…
"It's great. Obviously we finished up pretty well last year, but it's great to be back and healthy to be able to be a part of that again."
On competing in intrasquad scrimmages…
"It's awesome to be able to go out and compete, even though it's against your own teammates, it's still great to compete anytime."
Junior Pitcher Chris Gomez
On what the new coaching staff brings to practice…
"The new coaching staff has been intense with the whole new style that he's bringing in – new philosophy, new signs. These last couple of weeks have been pretty intense and everyone is physically drained and mentally drained, just by the fact that there's a lot of thinking going on with the new process, where the new players are adjusting and the returners are adjusting as well."
On what the excitement level has been around the team…
"Everyone's super excited, everyone's been eager to get out on the field ever since the season ended. We ended on a good note and everyone wants to get back there. Everyone knows what it takes, so the intensity has been really high. I'm very excited."
On what he hopes to gain from the instructional season…
"Just experience and to have a connection with everyone else. Everyone will be on the same page and can take that onto the field so once it's game time and the season comes around everyone's on the same page and ready to go."
Junior Pitcher Dan Hammer
On getting back on the mound against live hitting…
"I felt really good, it's always good to opportunity to get out there and face live hitters instead of just throwing a bullpen so it was fun to get back out there."
On what the energy has been like with the new coaching staff…
"The energy has been great with the new staff and everybody's just really excited to be out here and have a good time this fall and get better as a team."
On his leadership role as a veteran on the pitching staff…
"My leadership role has just been leading by example and helping these young, talented guys kind of find themselves and help be successful this year."
UP NEXT
Fall practice will continue before the Panthers open the exhibition season Friday, Oct. 12, hosting the Toronto Mets in the first of two home contests at Charles L. Cost Field. Youngstown State will visit Friday, Oct. 19 before the Panthers conclude the 2018 fall season at rival WVU on Friday, Oct. 26 for the #FallBrawl.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
The season ushers in the first for newly appointed head coach Mike Bell, who was introduced by Director of Athletics Heather Lyke on July 13. Bell joins the Panthers after a seven-year stint as the associate head coach and pitching coach at ACC powerhouse Florida State. Bell brings more than 14 years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to the Panthers and is just the fifth head coach in Pitt baseball history.
The Panthers took to the field as a full team for the first time Monday afternoon, competing in individual and team drills throughout the week, capped off by a pair of intrasquad scrimmages Thursday and Friday.
Senior Catcher Cole MacLaren
On the excitement of getting out on the field for fall ball…
"It was awesome, even given the weather circumstances. It was a very nice day, but it was good to get out here as a full team now. Guys are eager, we've got fire and it was great to be out here today."
On helping the younger players adapt…
"I kind of take that upon myself to help these guys through what they need to get through, whether that's in the classroom or if it's on the field. It's whatever they need help with. The older guys are here to guide them and show them the path to success and to win on the baseball field."
On adapting to a new coaching staff…
"First and foremost, some guys have to get healthy. We have some pretty key guys that are on the DL right now, but other than that we're all trying to get used to each other a little bit, but it's early. We're all working together and working hard, it'll be good."
??? "It's good to get out here as a full team now. Guys are eager. We've got fire." - Cole MacLaren #H2P pic.twitter.com/25dvoyXYEe
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) September 24, 2018
Junior Outfielder Nico Popa
On the energy level around practice…
"It's awesome to be out here for a full team practice and it's great with all of the new energy that these coaches are bringing."
On being back on the field after last year's season-ending injury…
"It's great. Obviously we finished up pretty well last year, but it's great to be back and healthy to be able to be a part of that again."
On competing in intrasquad scrimmages…
"It's awesome to be able to go out and compete, even though it's against your own teammates, it's still great to compete anytime."
??? "It's awesome to be out here for full team practice. It's great all the new energy these coaches are bringing." - Nico Popa #H2P pic.twitter.com/drF399PQEe
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) September 25, 2018
Junior Pitcher Chris Gomez
On what the new coaching staff brings to practice…
"The new coaching staff has been intense with the whole new style that he's bringing in – new philosophy, new signs. These last couple of weeks have been pretty intense and everyone is physically drained and mentally drained, just by the fact that there's a lot of thinking going on with the new process, where the new players are adjusting and the returners are adjusting as well."
On what the excitement level has been around the team…
"Everyone's super excited, everyone's been eager to get out on the field ever since the season ended. We ended on a good note and everyone wants to get back there. Everyone knows what it takes, so the intensity has been really high. I'm very excited."
On what he hopes to gain from the instructional season…
"Just experience and to have a connection with everyone else. Everyone will be on the same page and can take that onto the field so once it's game time and the season comes around everyone's on the same page and ready to go."
??? "Everyone has been eager to get out on the field ever since the season ended; we ended on a good note. Everyone wants to get back there. Everyone knows what it takes." - Chris Gomez #H2P pic.twitter.com/RvAScQHP12
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) September 26, 2018
Junior Pitcher Dan Hammer
On getting back on the mound against live hitting…
"I felt really good, it's always good to opportunity to get out there and face live hitters instead of just throwing a bullpen so it was fun to get back out there."
On what the energy has been like with the new coaching staff…
"The energy has been great with the new staff and everybody's just really excited to be out here and have a good time this fall and get better as a team."
On his leadership role as a veteran on the pitching staff…
"My leadership role has just been leading by example and helping these young, talented guys kind of find themselves and help be successful this year."
??? "It's always a good opportunity to get out there and face live hitters, instead of just throwing a bullpen. It was fun to get back out there." - Dan Hammer#H2P pic.twitter.com/A4Nb4sVbY6
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) September 27, 2018
UP NEXT
Fall practice will continue before the Panthers open the exhibition season Friday, Oct. 12, hosting the Toronto Mets in the first of two home contests at Charles L. Cost Field. Youngstown State will visit Friday, Oct. 19 before the Panthers conclude the 2018 fall season at rival WVU on Friday, Oct. 26 for the #FallBrawl.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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