The reality of playing in 40-degree weather on a typical northeast Ohio baseball field probably hit the Saint John Heralds even a little harder this week.
The Heralds returned from their spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they had a chance to play four games at the Ripken Experience.
“Yeah, it was a little different playing at Smith Field,” Coach Alvin Rodriguez said after Monday’s game with Edgewood. “I think a couple of guys were thinking the ball was going to bounce a little different today.”
Now that they’re back home, Rodriguez and his team are gearing up for a season of high expectations.
Coming back from the beach though, the coach said he’s hoping his squad brought back a little more than just a suntan.
If Monday’s performance against Edgewood is any indication, the coach got what he wanted as the Heralds beat the Warriors 13-3.
In Myrtle Beach, the Heralds went 2-2, but Rodriguez said he was looking for more than just a couple of notches in the win column last week.
“The real takeaway from the trip was we learned how to be mentally tough,” Rodriguez said. “How do you do your job? Stay within yourself, let your ego go, get away from ‘me, me,’ and play as us.”
After two years of losing in the Division IV district championship game, mental toughness is something Saint John is looking to develop more of this season to extend their season another week or more.
They opened the season down south with a 16-1 loss to Metrolina Christian Academy, the defending North Carolina NCISAA 4A state champions.
“We faced the best high school baseball team I’ve ever seen. They smoked us good,” Rodriguez said with a laugh. “I would hold that they had seven Division I commits.”
The Heralds bounced back by splitting a doubleheader the next day with a couple of teams closer to home.
They defeated Harbor Creek out of Pennsylvania 7-5, then lost to Revere 12-0, from Ohio.
Saint John finished the trip the next day with an 11-1 win over Moniteau from West Sunbury, Pa.
“By the end of the trip I think we kind of jelled,” Rodriguez said. “I think that showed today [Monday] against Edgewood.”
Jelling together is another aspect the coach hoped the trip would produce.
The Heralds are once again a very talented team, led by seniors like Will Anderson and Ryan Williams. But this year’s team has an influx of transfers and young talent that the coach is eager to see blend in.
Having the chance to take them on a baseball getaway was a good chance to do just that.
“I love baseball because it’s the ultimate team sport,” Rodriguez said. “When you’re getting guys together; especially with having some transfers come in, I think it’s the perfect thing to get these guys together, let them be kids, jel together and find out who they are.”
The Heralds slept five guys in a room, and had breakfast on the beach every morning before going on a walk.
“I think they spent three hours digging a gigantic hole in the beach one day,” Rodrguez joked. “That’s crazy, but that’s exactly what they need to be doing, hanging out, talking baseball.”
