Dormant since May of last year, SUNY Cortland’s Wallace Field will soon be filled with the pinging sounds of bats on baseballs, as the Cortland baseball team gears up for their 2024 season.
Cortland baseball begins its regular season tomorrow against the Salisbury Seagulls. They have three games in Maryland slated to fill the weekend, but the February schedule can always be uncertain due to weather. The first in a season’s worth of tough matchups, Salisbury placed second in the Division III preseason rankings, setting the stage for a difficult season opener. But the Red Dragons feel ready, with plenty of preparation in the offseason.
“Next Friday is about executing the fundamentals to perfection,” said outfielder and captain Mat Bruno. “For the past few weeks, we have focused on all aspects of our game, and quite simply, we just have to execute to the best of our ability. We need to play all-around baseball at a high level to be successful against this team, and our focus will be just that until the very first pitch.”
The last time Cortland faced Salisbury, the Seagulls won both games of a doubleheader, but the Red Dragons have had a whole year to build up their strength as a team and know what to look out for against Salisbury.
“Last year did not go our way when we traveled to Salisbury,” said outfielder Chris Bonacci. “We’ve had a full year to regroup and go at them again and see what we have. We have to play like it’s our last game and leave it out on the field.”
Head Coach Joe Brown realizes that Salisbury’s 2023 lineup was filled with players who had been on the team together for a while and that Cortland’s team at the time was largely new, attributing to the Seagulls’ heavy edge. Bruno also sees the importance of having a team of veterans this year.
“Last year, we had a relatively new team taking on an experienced Salisbury lineup,” said Bruno. “This year, the tables have turned. We now have many players who have been in high-pressure situations on countless occasions. Similarly, we know their style of play, and we have a plan of attack.”
While the first game of the season is certainly an important one, that doesn’t mean it’s going to make or break their season.
“The first game does not necessarily impact the rest of our season,” said Bruno. “Each series is a new opportunity to scout, perform, and execute our game plan. One loss or one win will not dictate the outcome of the next game. It is important to stay even-keeled throughout the season, meaning not getting too high or too low.”
These early season games may not be a preview into the rest of the season, but they still can be a good evaluation of how well the offseason preparations went.
“I think the first weekend in totality, all three games, you know, basically will tell you whether or not what you did in preseason prepared you if the players are ready,” said Brown.
With over 40 games ahead, the Red Dragons have to take things one game at a time.
“Our biggest strength is our motivation to beat this team,” said Bruno. “Obviously, we believe that we have the skill set to come out on top, but nothing can beat a team’s will to win. I believe this is our biggest strength not only against Salisbury but every team we face.”