10/25/2004 - Baseball
Baseball Concludes Competitive Fall Practice

Annapolis, Md. - The Navy baseball team is excited about the 2005 season, a fact evident to head coach Steve Whitmyer throughout fall practice.

"There were two major points of focus that we wanted to address in fall practice and that was our approach to the game and to renew the commitment and desire of the team," said Whitmyer, who is entering his fourth season at Navy. "Throughout fall practice, the team has addressed those two points very well."

The 2004 season didn't go as planned for Navy as it stumbled home to a 14-36 record. However, Whitmyer wanted the team to use it as motivation to improve in 2005 and for the senior and junior classes to take a more active role in leadership.

"It all starts with the upperclassmen," he added. "So far, the senior and junior classes have been tremendous. They continually talk about the concept of being a team and helping each other out. At the same time, they are continuing to strengthen their individual games to be more productive this season.

"This group of seniors is what has made this fall the best, because they know that if we compete as a team we will be a lot better this season."

The team will be led by senior team captain Trevor Thompson (Kent. Wash.), who will man one of the outfield spots this season.

"Trevor is a great person and I know he is going to be a great leader for this team," Whitmyer said. "He has accomplished a lot in the classroom and on the field, so the young guys will definitely have someone to look up to who does things the right way."

The intensity and desire to improve was shown throughout several inter-squad scrimmages. There are several young players on the team who are battling for only nine starting spots, which has created some fierce competition.

"The guys on the squad are taking the scrimmages personally," Whitmyer said. "They know that this is their opportunity to make an impression and get a leg up going into preseason practice in a couple of months. The scrimmages have shown me that this team is going to battle hard and not give up in any game this season."

The Navy baseball team will host an alumni game Friday at 3 p.m. at Max Bishop Stadium. For more information on the game, please email assistant coach Lt. Kurt Sellerberg via email at sellerbe@usna.edu.