With only a few weeks left before the start of a new season, FAMU baseball is preparing to continue its winning ways.
The Rattlers went 27-26 last year, and made it to the MEAC semifinal game only to lose to arch-rival Benthue-Cookman. This season their motto is “more.”
“We want more, that’s the word that were going to try to make sure we play and practice with that in mind, we want a little bit more this season,” said head coach Jamey Shouppe.
“We want to win the MEAC. We didn’t win the MEAC which is our goal,” he added.
The coach said he hopes for a more consistent season from the opening weeks to the tournaments to championships. Last year the team fell short to Bethune-Cookman, which kept then from advancing to the NCAA tournament. He wants to start strong, and finish even stronger.
“Even though we had a winning season, we got to the tournament and didn’t play as well,” said Shouppe.
Coach Shouppe has high expectations for the team and their level of talent.
“Based on the talent last season was a disappointment,” he said
Senior first baseman Brian Davis has high hopes for his last season.
“This university as a whole has been a part of my life for four years, I will miss the team comraderie,” he said.
This season means “everything” to him, he said. This could be his last season before entering “the real world.”
Davis hopes baseball will work out but said, “It’s important to have a degree to fall back on.” He plans on attending grad school.
The team is strengthened by veterans, but there are a few new recruits.
William Walter is new to FAMU, but not new to the game. He also played baseball in high school. A freshman, Walter hopes to contribute and help the team win.
The baseball season begins Feb. 16 with a three-game series against Marshall here at FAMU.