Sharks Baseball Team Searching For Consistency
One year after coming within one win of being crowned National Champions, the Miami Dade College baseball team is struggling to hit its groove.
The Sharks started the season losing five of its first eight games. They trudged through February winning nine games and losing eight. It wasn’t until recently when they began to show signs of life, winning 10 of their last 16 games.
“Compared to last year, I think we are missing a little passion,” outfielder Deivy Palmeiro said, one of six returning players from last year’s team.
Palmeiro has done his part. He is second on the team in hitting with a .358 batting average, one home run and 17 RBI.
Sophomore catcher Jonathan Morales leads the team in hitting with a .409 batting average adding one home run and 17 RBI. Freshman outfielder Kevin Williams leads the team with 22 RBI.
On the mound, righthander Colyn O’Connell, a transfer from Polk State College, is having a strong year for the Sharks after he missed all of last season while he recovered from Tommy John surgery to repair the elbow on his pitching arm. O’Connell, a six-foot-five sophomore who was drafted in the 19th round in the 2012 major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians, is 4-0 with a 3.76 ERA. He also has 30 strikeouts.
The Sharks, who are 15-14 and 6-6 in the Southern Conference, are going to need more efforts like O’Connell’s this season to improve.
“This team hasn’t found their identity,” Head Baseball Coach Danny Price said. “They are looking for it.”
Last year, the team finished the season 35-15 overall (17-6 in the Southern Conference). The Sharks have won 11 state titles and two National Championships so they have a lot to live up to.
“There is so much pressure on [the freshman players] from last year’s accomplishments,” Williams said. “We are trying to find our group.”
The Sharks next home game is March 25 versus Broward College at the baseball field at Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104 St. at 4 p.m. Entrance to all games is free.
