<\/a>Jenna Siddiqui
\n<\/strong>MC301 Contributor<\/strong><\/p>\n

After winning back-to-back championships, the Jackson State University baseball team is preparing for this year\u2019s season and hopes to bring home the SWAC Championship for the third year in a row.<\/p>\n

The team had a 19-5 record during their journey to the 2013 SWAC Championship.\u00a0 Their road to victory was a lot harder in 2014 with a record of 9-15.\u00a0 On the way to the SWAC tournament, the bus caught on fire, destroying all the equipment and delaying their journey.\u00a0 However, this tragic accident did not faze the players, who seemed to be more motivated.<\/p>\n

Overcoming adversity, a slow season and every flaming obstacle that crossed their paths, they left the tournament not only as champions, but back-to-back champions.<\/p>\n

Jovany Felipe, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Miami, Fla., is a catcher for JSU says the team is setting their sights a little higher this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like there is a lot to prove to show that we can consistently be top contenders in not only the SWAC, but in NCAA play in general,\u201d said Felipe.<\/p>\n

The team has been running, weight-lifting and conditioning since January and held their first on the field practice on Jan. 23.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on what has been shown this off-season and pre-season, we can definitely swing the bat.\u00a0 I believe that our pitching needs to improve a little bit so we do not have to rely on winning ball games on plenty of runs all the time,\u201d said Felipe.<\/p>\n

Mark Watson, a freshman management major from Orlando, Fla., is a third baseman for JSU and stated that Alabama State University will be the team\u2019s toughest competition in the SWAC.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are spending a lot of time at the field doing individual drills and breaking down play situations that occur.\u00a0 We have a young team which is a disadvantage because we all have to get familiar with each other and create team chemistry,\u201d said Watson.<\/p>\n

Going into the 2015 season, the team lost 12 seniors from last year\u2019s championship team.<\/p>\n

Vincent Anthonia, a junior physical education major from Willimstad, Curacao, is a left-handed pitcher who has won a championship every season he has played for JSU.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though we lost a lot of seniors, we still have a lot of returners that made an impact last year like, Melvin Rodriguez, infielder; Alexander Juday, pitcher; and Gary Thomas, short stop.\u00a0 I feel like we are definitely set apart from other SWAC teams because we have experience in the regionals two years in a row.\u00a0 Last year we beat Louisiana Lafayette who was No. 1 in the nation at the time,\u201d said Anthonia.<\/p>\n

Anthonia pitched the game JSU won in the regionals of 2014 against Lafayette, but still feels a little pressure because he is expected to and wants to be someone who steps up.<\/p>\n

The first home game for the Tigers is Feb. 13 against Texas Pan America at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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