<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
There’s something in the air at Cabrillo—it seems like every team on campus is young, talented, with huge hopes and a steady-handed coach along to guide them. <\/span>The Jags’ baseball squad is no different. <\/span>Helmed by second-year coach Erick Bryant, who was an All-CIF player at Poly and coached freshman baseball and football there before heading across the bridge, the Jags are already much-improved from a few years ago. <\/span>They were a combined 9-27 in the two seasons prior to Bryant’s arrival, and while they finished sixth last season, more than one coach told us the Jags are a much harder game than they once were.<\/p>\n “This season, we’re already becoming a family,” says Bryant. <\/span>“We’re molding and gelling as a team, and for us, that’s what it’s all about.” <\/span>After a solid run through Winter ball, with a big win over Banning, Bryant has the campus believing, bolstering his ranks by more than triple what they were last season. <\/span>“We have a 25-player roster now,” says Bryant. <\/span>“It was never more than 12 or 13 before.”<\/p>\n With that deeper roster comes more talent, and more options—the Jags are 3-1 after the start of nonleague play, and are hoping to surprise some teams this season. <\/span>If their young cats come through the way Bryant wants them to, we wouldn’t be surprised if they did.<\/p>\n THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH<\/b><\/p>\n Wesley Madera, UTILITY –<\/i> As a freshman, Madera is already the Jags’ best hitter,<\/span> <\/i>banging an impressive .625 through nonleague play, with an OBP of .700. <\/span>He’s a little guy with a big swing, and his continued success will be crucial to the Jags’ chances. <\/span>Madera is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Jose, who graduated in the Spring and who was Cabrillo’s only all-leaguer last season.<\/span><\/p>\n Ramiro Rosalez, P – <\/i>A tall, muscular junior, Rosalez was on the varsity squad last year, and his coach has high hopes for him this season. <\/span>Through nonleague he has an ERA of 0.8 with four strikeouts.<\/span><\/p>\n Luis Tarrazes, SS – <\/i>Tarrazes leads the Jags so far in stolen bases, and coach Bryant expects that to be the case at the end of the season, too. <\/span>He’s another freshman, with quick wheels and a solid bat (.333 through preseason). <\/span>“He has just a great amount of talent,” says Bryant. <\/span>“I can see him going a long ways.”<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n QUOTABLE QUOTES<\/b><\/p>\n “I came over here to try and build some structure—it’s just like building a house. <\/span>Last year we laid down the foundation, and right now we’re putting the frame up. <\/span>It’s about building consistency and getting better each day—I think we’re getting there. <\/span>We got a ways to go, but we’re headed in the right direction.” – Jags coach Erick Bryant on starting from scratch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Our 2009 Moore League baseball preview, this one focusing on 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