This past weekend, baseball wrapped up its six weeks of fall practices for the year. Now, the team will enter its off-season period of training to prepare for its seasons spring start. 

Baseball concluded the fall ball season during Alumni Weekend, where alumni joined the current team on Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. The team brought in former Tulane players that went on to pursue professional careers, including Tommy Manzella (’05) and Cary Livingston (’72).

The team has welcomed a new coaching staff, namely new head coach Travis Jewett, over the course of this fall. Additionally, the team has successfully integrated its freshman class and the skill sets that they bring to the field.

“There’s definitely an adjustment period at the beginning, with a much different style of coaching this year,” redshirt junior infielder Matt Rowland said. “I think there was an adjustment period, but as the fall went on, I think everyone kind of got acclimated. It just got better and better. Our team’s grown really close and I think everyone loves the coaching so far.”

Though the returning players serve as leaders for the new players, Jewett emphasizes that the team has a unified front and that leadership is not restricted simply by age.

“We kind of have a rule around here that says we don’t have divisions,” Jewett said. “It’s not seniors and freshmen; there are no restrictions on leadership and opportunities to do things.”

The main focus of fall ball this year was creating an established understanding of the basics of baseball by working as a team to create well-rounded players. Additionally, a large focus at practice was bringing energy to the field every day in order for the team to perform to the best of its abilities.

“As a team, I think the most important thing was energy,” Rowland said. “We went over a lot of the basics, just talking about hammering home the fundamentals.”

In the coming months, the players will split up into more individualized training with coaches, as well as continuing weight training and running as a team. To Jewitt, the most important aspect of each player’s mentality moving forward is keeping an open mind to the changes and improvements that the coaches set.

“I’ve been telling [the players] lately, it’s what you learn after you everything that’s the most important,” Jewett said. “Some of these guys, they’re older or they’ve had three different coaches in their time here… I just really want them to be open-minded.”

Baseball’s spring season is stacked with tough competition from all parts of the country, with games ranging from UC Santa Barbara to the University of Connecticut. Even though the team has high hopes for the coming year, each opposing team offers its own challenges and each game serves as a new opportunity to go out and be the best team possible.

“There are a lot of quality teams from last year, and certainly teams that are projected to do well this year… We talk about the future, but we’re just trying to win the moment.  Each game will be the moment,” Jewett said.

The team’s first game of the spring season will be against Army at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 at Tulane’s Turchin Stadium.