Peabody coach gets team’s attention with Saturday workout

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. ? If the Peabody West baseball team loses Sunday night to Chula Vista, Calif. it won’t be because of a lack of intensity or concentration.
The team, which suffered its first loss in 18 games together, went through and arduous practice for nearly two hours Saturday morning in which they were put through running drills, defensive work and batting.
At one point during practice manager Dave Batchelor yelled out, “I don’t want to hear about yesterday it’s only about tomorrow.”
For a photo gallery of the Peabody West team in Williamsport, Click: itemlive.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp
Batchelor and coach Danny Marchese hit countless fly balls and groundballs to the team trying to shore up a porous defense which committed three errors and accounted for five unearned runs in Friday’s 10-1 loss to Texas.
?I noticed that the team was moping around and I know if we continue to feel that way it is only going to get worse,” Batchelor said. “We have to get back to playing baseball.”
Batchelor sent a clear message to the players during practice he was not going to accept anything but the best.
?I hit four balls and three of them were thrown away. That is a lack of concentration,” Batchelor bellowed to his outfielders as he sent them all on a lap around the practice field.
?I think we were a little nervous during our first game and think we needed a practice like this,” Matt Hosman said. “We want to show that we can play and beat anybody here.”
While Batchelor would not commit to naming a starting pitcher for Sunday’s game, he did say he was leaning toward starting Hosman.
?Right now I am leaning toward starting Hosman,” Batchelor said. “Coach (Marchese) and I will talk about it today and tonight and make our decision.”
If Saturday’s practice gave any hints as to who would start, once would believe Hosman would get the nod given the fact Matt Correale worked exclusively with the outfield and was asked to make numerous long throws.
?We know every team here is good and we have to hit better and play better defense than we did Friday,” Hosman said. “I will watch (California) play tonight and see how they hit the ball, how they field the ball and maybe see how they set up.”
NOTES: One bright spot for Peabody from Friday night’s game is that the play Correale, Hosman and catcher Traverse Briana combined on in the bottom of the first to cut down a run was recognized by ESPN as Friday’s 9th best play.
While none of the three wanted to discuss an individual accomplishment Hosman did say he saw it Friday night and admitted it was pretty cool.
On the injury front Batchelor said second baseman Mike Petrosino seemed fine after banging the back of his head on the ground when involved in a collision Friday.
Briana, who injured his hand when applying a tag, is still suffering some lingering effects, and while he was not held out of any of the practice, he was applying ice to the injury sporadically.
Sunday’s game again California is set for 6 p.m. at Volunteer Stadium. The game can be seen live on ESPN2 and through streaming video at www.itemlive.com