As Coach Jacobe McCutchen enters his second season as the head coach of the Bogan High School baseball team, he has high hopes and big goals for the upcoming season. With a mix of returning players and new faces, the team is looking to make a strong impact in their conference and become a premier baseball program.
The top returning players from last season are Alexiel Mendez Vigo and Immanuel Patterson. Coach McCutchen describes Vigo as one of the best players on the team, with a strong work ethic, humility, and a true passion for the game. He recognizes that Vigo has a natural talent, but also values his heart and dedication. Patterson, who unfortunately suffered an injury last season, was a standout player as a freshman. Coach McCutchen is expecting a breakout year from him and believes he will be a key player for the team.
In terms of new players, Coach McCutchen believes that Elliot Patterson, Immanuel's younger brother, will make an immediate impact on the team. As a coach, he looks for players who have maturity, good grades, and a strong leadership presence to be potential team captains. This season, Aiden Ortiz Gutierrez and Alexiel Mendez Vigo have been named captains, with two more spots yet to be decided.
Building a strong team chemistry and camaraderie is a priority for Coach McCutchen. He partners players up with teammates they may not know well and challenges them to get to know each other. He also uses a saying he made up, L.I.T. (Lock In Together), to motivate his players to come together and push themselves to their full potential.
The biggest challenges in preparing for this season have been keeping the players humble and getting them to consistently attend practice. Last season, the team had a successful run, winning many games, and Coach McCutchen wants to ensure that they remain focused and driven.
Looking at the team's schedule, Coach McCutchen is excited for the season opener against Westmont and a tough game against St. Rita. He acknowledges that the team's last game against state runner-up Lemont was a tough loss, but sees it as a learning experience and motivation for the upcoming season.
As a coach, Coach McCutchen understands the importance of the mental aspect of the game. He has seen the impact it can have on a player's performance and emphasizes the importance of building confidence and having a strong mindset. He believes that mistakes and failures are a part of the game, but it's how the team learns and grows from them that truly matters.
In terms of changes and improvements to the team's training and conditioning program, Coach McCutchen highlights the new weight room that the team now has access to. He also mentions that they have been putting in the work to improve their physical strength and endurance.
In terms of strengths and weaknesses, Coach McCutchen sees communication as a strong suit for the team but acknowledges the need to work on accepting failure and using it as a learning process. He believes that building confidence is a key aspect of the game and is working with his team to constantly improve and grow, not just in baseball, but in life as well.
Overall, Coach McCutchen's coaching philosophy is centered around constantly striving to improve and be better every day. He believes that the mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical, and his goal is to teach his players to be leaders on and off the field. With a mix of talent, dedication, and a strong team dynamic, the Bogan High School baseball team is ready to take on the upcoming season and make their mark in the conference.
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