Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium is ready for spring operations as Charlotte begins spring practice. |
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Charlotte Baseball Finishes Opening Weekend of Practice
Feb. 5, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - New NCAA rules have caused a later start to the regular season and a condensed schedule for all of Division I baseball in 2008, and the Charlotte 49ers just finished their first weekend of practice at the new Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium Sunday. That weekend included a Saturday Alumni gathering at an intersquad scrimmage and open house which brought in hundreds of people to the stadium.
Monday, Niners head coach Loren Hibbs talked about the first weekend of practice and how the Charlotte program would deal with the change.
"We had a positive first weekend of practice," said Hibbs.
"Attendance at our alumni event was outstanding and we had 300+ people in attendance for our Saturday scrimmage. We allowed our guys to play this weekend, without much `interference' from our coaching staff. We will start the process of "breaking things down" this week in practice."
The team will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with scrimmages on Wednesdays as well as Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This schedule will simulate the regular season. With three fewer weeks to the schedule, but the same number of games (56), many teams around the country will play more weekday games this year, with fewer open days for rainouts and a less flexible schedule for making up or moving dates.
Another issue with the new schedule is program development. With a condensed schedule, there will be less practice time (fewer days available to practice), which could hurt the development of players in programs all across the country. Coaches will have to devise new plans to develop young players and find time for personal instruction during the season with fewer off days.
In 2007, the Niners won a pair of NCAA Regional games, the first-ever post-season wins in program history. The 2008 season begins for Charlotte at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium on Friday, February 22, when the Niners host Manhattan at 4 p.m.
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