Time to bring the heat
Flames baseball prepares for season
NEW — Scott Jackson enters his first season at Liberty.
Photo Credit: Joel Coleman
As spring approaches, so does baseball season with the impending season opener for the Liberty Flames slated for Feb. 17 at Riley Park in Charleston, South Carolina against Virginia.
The Flames are looking to improve their record after a lackluster season of 31-28 last year.
The first step was hiring new head coach Scott Jackson after former coach Jim Toman resigned following last season.
Jackson served as the Flames pitching coach in 2008 and has since worked as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of North Carolina for the last eight seasons.
In his term there, Jackson helped the team reach three College World Series, six consecutive NCAA Regionals and win the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in 2013.
“It’s been a smooth transition for us and certainly I’d like to think it has been for them too,” Jackson said.
Pitcher Shane Quarterley agreed, and he is eager to work with the new coaching staff.
“It’s definitely a clean slate,” Quarterley said.
“He’s been farther than we all have. He’s been to a World Series.”
The team is ranked third in the Big South preseason rankings and has notable opponents to overcome — namely High Point and Campbell.
“There are some really good programs that we’ll play that have a long history of success,” Jackson said.
“I know Winthrop, Highpoint and Campbell seem to be the preseason picks for some of these other publications, but those preseason picks don’t really mean a whole lot until you go out there and play. North Carolina (and) Virginia stand out. Obviously, I was at North Carolina before I came here, so I’m very familiar with their roster.”
This season’s starters consist of only veterans for Liberty’s baseball team.
“We have a lot of seniors this year,” Quarterley said.
“The guys that have been here last year, it’s easy for them to just hop back in the swing of things. It’s kind of like riding a bike. They come out here and know what to do.”
Jackson said there are 14 seniors on the roster this year.
“Older players on rosters generally equals a chance for success because they’ve been there, and there’s no substitute in our game for experience than being in the batter’s box on the road in a big situation,” Jackson said.
“It’s hard to say what area of our team is going to play or show the most production when it’s time for us to start playing, but I really like the veteran part of our team and the fact that we do have some experience.”
Outfielder William Shepherd, a fourth-year starter, said the team works well together despite any experiential differences.
“It’s nice playing with guys you’ve played with before, but at the same time we practice every single day — we scrimmage every single day,” Shepherd said.
“Even (with) the new guys that would be on the field, we’ve played basically a whole season with them because you spend so much time together and everybody is like a brother to you.”
BACK AGAIN — Senior Will Shepherd looks to build off an impressive junior year.
Photo Credit: Mitchell Bryant & Joel ColeMan
Team members spoke enthusiastically about how they’re preparing for the season, and what aspects they are working on.
“Our hitting is great,” Quarterley said.
“We’re taking a lot of hacks, and from a pitching standpoint you never want to be that guy that’s like, ‘Oh wow, these guys can hit.’ Our staff is coming together. We’re learning more and we’re grinding harder. We’re taking it day by day, and we’re looking where our feet are, and we’re not really looking at the end goal yet.”
After giving up 350 runs to opposing teams last season — the ninth most surrendered by a team in the Big South — Shepherd said there have been improvements in defense.
“We really settled down and focused on the little things defensively,” Shepherd said. “Our pitching staff has come forward really well.”
The Flames first home game is scheduled for Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. against the University of Kentucky.