Last season marked the beginning of a new era for Point Park University’s men’s baseball team, which finished with a record of 13-26 following Head Coach Loren Torres’ assumption of leadership. “I personally always felt that we were a couple of hitters short in our lineup and a couple of arms away in the bullpen,” Torres said. “We played a lot of close games that came down to us not delivering in an RBI opportunity or not holding the lead with our bullpen. This year we are going in with a lineup that should be solid up and down and will have some arms in the pen that can hold the lead for us.”Sophomore outfielder Rob Novia noted that despite a losing record, the team was competitive in many games.”[A] matter of execution, really, is what it comes down to,” Novia said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to execute on all cylinders, pitching and hitting wise. Sometimes it’s just not there and you’ve got to work through that; and when it wasn’t there, we just didn’t execute in those situations where we needed to get it done. We lost eight ballgames by one run or in walk- off fashion, and it really comes down to the little things that you’ve got to execute. If we do more little things right than the other team at the end of the day, then [we will] … come out with a win.”The team will try to move past last season’s results and move forward to this season, for which Torres has high expectations.”As we did last year, we are going in trying to win every game we play,” Torres said. “Our goal is to play one game at a time and hopefully stand tall at the final out.”Most people have favorite Major League Baseball players, as do the members of Point Park’s baseball team.”[A] guy that I look up [to] would be Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox because I am not the biggest guy out there, [and] I am not the tallest guy out there, but I am one of those guys who gets the job done and puts the ball where it needs to be, and that’s kind of what he is,” Novia said. “He’s [5-foot-6-inches] and he’s really fought through a lot of adversity to get where he [is] and I really idolize him.”Even coaches like Torres admire Major League players, who possess traits he wants to see in his players.”For me, it’s Derek Jeter,” Torres said. “He hustles, prepares well, is a great leader, plays for [the] team first, wants to win, does not complain, and has talent.” When asked about his playing style, sophomore pitcher transfer student Sean Clark described himself as a selfless player.”[I’m] goal-oriented towards team success and willing to do whatever it takes,” Clark said.Torres cited his team’s speed as a factor in his managerial style.”I have to adapt to the team each year so it changes,” Torres said. “For example, this year I have to be aggressive. We have tons of speed and need to put pressure on the defense as much as we can each day.”The team’s first game will be Tuesday, March 1 at West Virginia Tech and often in preparation for the start of the season, there are position battles to determine who starts and who sits on the bench. According to Torres, this will likely not be the case with the Pioneers..”Right now, we have a good idea of who is going to be out there, but we have much depth in every position and jobs could change hands anytime,” Torres said.Novia looks forward to taking the field again with his “second family”.”I am really excited about … getting … onto the field because we’ve got some new guys that came up here and people have grown over the years. [T]his is my second year here, so it is nice to see people grow,” Novia said. “I feel like we’re a real family; everybody really gets along and hangs out with each other and really bonded well.”Kevin Taylor, Director of Athletic Communications, is also excited to see how the team will fare this season.”I am interested in seeing how they do,” Taylor said. “I think there is some potential there and you have some guys who have been here for four years that are in their second year under Coach Torres that want to finish their career[s] … on a high note. They have some new players that are both freshmen and transfers that have a chance to come in and make an impact right away. I think when you combine those two things … there is a chance that they will be right in the middle of the American Mideast Conference which is a really good baseball league. People don’t know that National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics baseball is a very competitive thing, so there’s definitely reason to be optimistic about their chances.”Fan support is important to any team, and Torres recognizes that fact.”We would love to have more fans at our games and we might have more fans this year [because] … our new facility is closer to campus and we have a chance to put a better product on the field,” Torres said.The Pioneers’ new field was the old stadium for the Duquesne Dukes baseball team before their final season as a baseball program last year.”It’s always important,” Taylor said. “The new field that the team is playing in is closer than the other one, and it’s a really nice ballpark as well as a great place to watch a game. It truly is a Division I caliber baseball field as it was for Duquesne.”Torres acknowledged there is also a life for players off of the diamond. “My favorite aspect of baseball is [that it can] make an impact in the lives of student-athletes,” Torres said. “The coach/player relationship is definitely my favorite aspect.”Both the players and Torres are excited for the upcoming season, and Novia encouraged Point Park’s baseball fans to attend the season opener. “I hope to see everybody’s support,” Novia said. “We’re going to have a great season, and we’re going to put on a show, that’s for sure.”