Wayne State baseball gears up for the new season, hoping for a turnaround

WAYNE, Neb.--A fresh start. Coming off a disappointing season last year, the Wayne State baseball team is hoping to turn things around in 2022.

“The team we had last year had high expectations and, you know, we just didn’t live up to those expectations,” said Head Coach, Alex Koch.

But like every new season in sports, it’s a chance for a new beginning.

The team this year was picked in the preseason coaches poll to finish eighth in their conference.

But for Koch, a former standout on the field with the Wildcats, and players on the team, being overlooked adds a ton of motivation.

“These guys are hungry. You know, these are a group of guys that they aren’t used to losing. This is a team that is traditionally in the conference tournament and winning ball games. It left a sour taste in our mouth only winning 12 games last year,” added Koch.

A veteran player on the team, Noah Roberts, wants people to know that the team is just focusing on the now.

“We really just want to be focused on what’s right in front of us and be right where our feet are,” said Roberts.

On Saturday, the team will travel to Kansas and take on Pittsburg State for their first action of the season. Koch talked about his main key for a turnaround season in 2022.

“It starts on the mound. With baseball, it starts on the mound. We need to be a lot more competitive on the mound. Eliminate the free bags, challenge guys and play defense behind them, then we can be a lot more successful than we were last year,” Koch said.