There's a new sense of belonging surrounding the Boston College baseball team this season.
When BC moved from the Big East to the ACC in the summer of 2005, many experts questioned how smooth a transition the Eagles would experience in a sport dominated by southern schools. They doubted that Big East-quality players could compete in the superior ACC.
Following two seasons that saw BC finish with back-to-back sub-.500 records in ACC play, some might say the critics were right. And with the Eagles returning just three starting fielders from last season, it might appear that 2008 will be more of the same.
For most college baseball programs, returning only three starters might pose a problem. But not for head coach Mik Aoki and his young team. "I think it (the talent level) has improved," Aoki said. "In some ways, it's just a natural progression of us having joined the ACC. I think that has enabled us to get in the door with kids who in the past may have overlooked us," he said about the move to such a competitive conference.
Aoki makes a point. While Birdball lost multiple players for various reasons - professional baseball, transfer, and even the NFL draft - the team currently has more ACC-quality players than ever before. It now has the talent to compete and the knowledge to win in perhaps the country's finest baseball conference.
Take freshman Matt Hamlet, for example. The infielder, who hails from ACC-country in Virginia, is expected to replace Joe Ayers in the lineup when the Eagles travel to Georgia Southern this weekend, but Aoki does not foresee a drop-off in production. Although Ayers was taken in the 48th round of the draft last summer, the coach does not hesitate to praise his protege: "[Hamlet] has done a very good job swinging the bat. He's a very good little defender that gives us flexibility." Hamlet's versatility should play a role early, as he is expected to start in right field this weekend while Barry Butera gets the nod at second base.
2008 Woodie Awards
