AUGUSTA, Ga. – One of the great American pastimes is the excitement for Opening Day of baseball season. For the Augusta University Jaguars that day will be Saturday, January 30. The Jaguars will host nine-time NCAA Division II national champions Florida Southern at Lake Olmstead Stadium at 2 pm.
The Jaguars braved the cold and rainy conditions on Thursday to put in some final practice ahead of Saturday’s season-opener. Third year head coach Jason Eller didn’t lose any everyday starters from the 2015 team. The Jags finished last season 18-28, going 11-18 in Peach Belt Conference play. Former local standouts Clint Hardy (Greenbrier), Hunter Boose (Greenbrier), and Nick Rau (Thomson) are expected to lead the way, along with former Middle Georgia transfer Drew Taylor.
Augusta University was picked 11th out of 13 teams in the PBC preseason poll. USC Aiken was selected fourth. You can see the entire poll here.
Eller believes his team will use the Jags spot in the poll as extra motivation heading into the season. “If there isn’t motivation then you’re just running from it. I mean we haven’t played as well as I hoped,” said Eller. “Last year we had a team that underachieved,” he added.
Eller, a former University of Georgia assistant coach, says his team has the confidence to put together a successful season. “It’s about respect. It’s about knowing when you’re going in to play you expect to win. I know that they will. I think they try to downplay it a little bit because we don’t really want to put pressure on ourselves, continued Eller. He says the Jags will be fired up for the season opener, “Yeah I think we’re gonna come out hungry and ready to go.”
Even though Eller has been playing and coaching baseball for more than two decades, he says he still feels like a kid when it comes to Opening Day. “There’s no doubt about it. We got new pinstripe uniforms this year and it’s kind of the New York Yankees look. So I may be sleeping in my pinstripes on Friday night,” he said.
He’s also glad there is buzz about Opening Day in the CSRA. “I’m excited. Our fan base ix excited. I think the university is excited. The community is excited. And we’re sitting on ‘G’ and waiting on ‘O’, ready to go”, he added.
