For the first time in eight months, baseball is finally back. Baseball coaches have implemented a new twist into this year’s tryout.
Pitchers and catchers will have morning tryouts every day for the next two weeks starting at 6:00 a.m. The practice ends at approximately 7:00 a.m., leaving the players around 20 minutes to shower, change, and get to first bell on time.
The morning tryout consists of many different drills. Pitchers will throw as many as 30-40 pitches not pitch again for five days.
“I love pitching especially during tryouts but at 6:00 a.m. in the morning it is a whole other story,” said Benjamin Grossheim, 9.
In addition, pitchers and catchers will have scheduled tryouts from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Infielders and outfielders will also tryout during the same time period.
“Tryouts are great, the coaches get to see who the best players are in order to build a great team,” said Jack Augenstein, 10.
The evening tryout is of much longer duration and consists of many more drills such as the 30, 40, and 60 yard dash. Players also endure a lot of running such as the 20 minute jog and suicides.
Tryouts started on Feb. 24 and will last through the beginning of March. Coach Chris Shrimpton said there will be three rounds of cuts starting on Feb. 26, Feb. 28, and sometime in the first week of Mar.
“I am not as nervous as I thought I would be during tryouts. I just let my skills do the talking,” said Nicholas Wade, 9.