New Tech coach hopes team’s experience pays off

LYNN – It’s a clean slate for the Lynn Tech baseball team. The Tigers have a new coach ? and, says Harold German, a new attitude.”The guys are very hungry to win,” he said Monday after another practice in the Tech gym. “Things look good. We have a lot of good attitudes. We’re going to try some new things.”View Photo GalleryGerman says the fact the players haven’t won very much in recent years makes them more receptive to learning new things.”We have to let them know that there’s a lot of work to go,” said German, “but we also have to let them know their goals are achievable.”We’re bringing them right back down to the basics,” he said.He said practicing indoors while everyone waits for the last remnants of winter to fade into the background isn’t much of a burden.”I don’t see it as limiting at all,” he said. “Maybe we can’t do outfield drills, or stuff likek that, but at the same time, we (German along with assistant coach Donna Mills) teaching them properly ? getting rid of all the bad habits ? taking advantage of the controlled climate. We’ve put every second we have in the gym top good use.”Eight of German’s returnees are either juniors or seniors. The leader is Billy Colon, who will handle the catching.”He’s the leader of the group,” German said. “He’s the guy I go to all the time.”Others German will lean on include Yorby Martinez, an infielder who looks to be primed for second base.”He as a good work ethic,” German said. “He’s very coachable and he has a great attitude.”The left side of the infield will consist of Michael Aybar and Miguel Diaz, both of whom hit from both sides of the plate.”And,” says German, “they have some pop in their bats.”There are a couple of familiar names who will be on the mound. One is Dayan Gonzalez, who – as a swimmer – qualified for the state champion meet and was named the city’s best diver; and the other is Luis Falcon, who as an all-purpose player on the Tigers’ football team.German also expects first baseman Alejandro Guzman to help the team as well. “He has a lot of power,” German says.German expects” to compete in every game. I think we should compete for the league title. There are a lot of new coaches in the (Commonwealth Conference). I’m one of five. I expect us to compete, and I expect some close games. Hopefully, we’ll be in contention by the end, when our experience should really help us.”Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].