Troy University Athletics
Trojans Set to Face Tough Competition in 2008
8/16/2007 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
One of the keys to the Trojans making the post-season in 2007 was their strength of schedule.
“One of the major factors for us reaching the regional last season in fact was our schedule,” head coach Bobby Pierce said. “Playing top teams and strong opponents helped us get in.”
With the start of the 2008 season, the NCAA has mandated a date when competition can begin.
College baseball's uniform start date takes effect on February 22 and will be the first day teams can play games. That sets the length of the season at 13 weeks, trimming three to five weeks from the schedules of warm-weather schools used to taking the field in late January or early February.
The new date for the 2008 season has caused coaches all over the country to shuffle games and try to fit all of their games into the shortened season.
“In the past, we have had 16-17 weeks to play our 56-game schedule,” Pierce said. “With this new change, we will have to fit all of our games into a 13 week time frame and that will cause us to play some double-headers.”
The new scheduling has more mid-week games thus creating a fifth starter in the pitching rotation instead of the traditional four.
“Having to find an additional starter will be a challenge for a lot of teams,” Pierce said. “It will take about a year to fully adjust to the new scheduling.”
The Trojans will travel to
The Trojans will also face
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One spot that catches the eye in terms of the schedule, is the 10 game road stand in late April and early May.
“Playing 10 games in a row on the road is going to be tough,” Pierce said. “Playing three is tough for anyone but we will have to overcome it and in 2009 it reverses to our favor with 10 games at home.”
The Trojans will also enjoy a new facility which will be completed in time for the 2008 season opener on Feb. 22.
We try to give our guys the best environment to play baseball,” Pierce said. “This new facility can help us in recruiting and it will show that we take pride in winning baseball games.”
