Baseball Ready to Swing

January 31, 2008

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University will come out swinging as it starts the 2008 baseball season under its fiery new leader Scott Selby.

The new-look Bulldogs are brimming with enthusiasm and confidence as they open the season Saturday, Feb. 2 with a four-game set at Henderson State University. The Bulldogs first home game will be in Weatherford Tuesday, Feb. 12 against St. Gregory’s.

Selby, who was lured from Southern Nazarene University after 10 successful seasons with the Crimson Storm, will try and work the same wonders here at SWOSU. The Bulldogs rebounded from a 4-20 start last year to finish 22-30 and end up second in the Lone Star Conference North Division with a 16-8 record.

Selby is not one to be satisfied easily and has rolled up his sleeves and worked non stop trying to improve the Bulldogs even further. Evidence is everywhere that something is certainly brewing. New players, fresh uniforms, a redesigned outfield fence and painted dugouts are just a few of the changes that people will notice. More upgrades are expected in the near future with the installation of a giant scoreboard, a pressbox and other cosmetic improvements.

“We’re going about doing this in the right way,” Selby said. “There are so many little things that go into making a quality program. I want it to mean something to these kids when they play here. I want them to treat and respect the game and their school.”

Selby’s “hard nose” approach has seemed to work with both holdovers and newcomers eagerly embracing his rigid philosophy. SWOSU’s 26-man roster is split right down the middle with 13 letterman and 13 newcomers.

“We’re going to find guys who will go out and hustle, execute and make plays,” Selby said. “I want us to be scrappy, have heart, and find ways to battle.”

The Bulldogs will have little time to waste in settling on a lineup and a pitching rotation before being tested by the best. SWOSU is scheduled to play eight games before hosting Lone Star Conference favorite Abilene Christian in a four-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 15 in Weatherford.

The ACU series is part of a new scheduling format that will combine both the North and South Divisions under one single-division group. All 12 LSC teams will play a each other in a four-game series with the top six teams advancing to the conference’s post-season tournament in May.

The Bulldogs were picked eighth in the Coach/Media LSC Preseason Poll.

“I like where we are picked. I think our players enjoy by the underdog role,” Selby said. “We got plenty of motivation to prove it different.”