Hey Tiger fans!

This season we are going to give you a weekly updated web blog giving you some insight into the life of a Pacific Tiger baseball player.

Since we have reported back to campus from winter break on Jan. 14th, we have pretty much been doing little individual practices on our own and some with the coaches. The NCAA has time restrictions until early February on how many hours per week we are allowed to have practices involving direct contact with the coaching staff. This is a drag, but we find ways to get things done on our own as players.

The first week back, we were able to practice outside all week due to cooperative weather. We were able to take our first batting practice under our new lights last Wednesday! It was very cool to see the field lit up at night and the lights seemed to work very well as we were all impressed at how bright the field was. This week, however, has been all indoors thanks to the vast amount rain every day. Our field was a giant puddle up until Thursday when the coaches pumped the water off and we were finally able to put the tarp on to protect the infield from future rainfall.

Surprisingly, the infield dirt was actually firm even though it was under water for the first part of the week! That probably had to do with the outstanding job by Wes Yourth, our Manager of Baseball Operations, and the other coaches did rolling the infield clay with our industrial sized steam roller before the rain came to harden the dirt. Due to the rain, Saint Mary's High School has been generous and let us conduct some of our practices in their indoor facility, Sprague Family Field House.

We have been conditioning like crazy having weights in the morning a few times per week and running in the afternoon about every day. Coach Tony is doing a good job preparing our legs for the long haul of the season ahead of us.

Over break Joe Olivera was named the 9th best catcher in the nation by rivals.com and I was named Pacific's Big West Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Check out the Q & A session with Olivera on the Baseball website to get a better feel for him as a player and person.

The Tiger Baseball Team will be hosting its first ever Community Night sponsored by the Paulsen Family at Brookside Country Club on February 6th at 6:00 PM. Famous Pitcher Jim Abbot will be speaking. Also, local star pitcher for the A's Dallas Braden and 2007 Pacific Baseball MVP Justin Baum will be receiving Awards. There will also be a youth equipment raffle, sports memorabilia raffle and autographs at the dinner. For tickets and reservations contact Grant Christensen at (209)602-4447. Hope to see you there! That's about all for this week. Go Tigers!

Brett Manning