Swingin' spring

Southwestern College's baseball team was crowned Co-Pacific Coast Conference Champions alongside San Diego Mesa College last year. Co-PCC Coach of the Year Jerry Bartow and his team finished their season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Mesa resulting in a tie for first place.

The victory over Mesa forced the Jaguars into a play-in game with Los Angeles Harbor College for a final playoff spot. SWC lost, 6-3, the following week.

"We were a lot better than what we showed," said returning starter Nathaniel 'Tre' Dennis. "We have to keep our head up and learn from it."

Despite the loss, Bartow and his team are primed for another run at the PCC Championship.

"I don't have the guys I had in the past," said Bartow. "We have some speed and Ken (Miramontes) has been hitting the ball a ton. He has gotten stronger."

Returning shortstop Miramontes was a ground ball vacuum last season. In 47 games he had only seven errors and a fielding percentage of .996. The sophomore also gave opposing pitchers a headache with a .289 batting average and by scoring 28 runs.

The Jaguars are short on returning players.

PCC Player of the Year Vidal Nuno and All-League players Anthony Benner, Kiko Hermosillo and Mike Miles have all left the team.

Even with the core of their defense gone, Bartow said he feels the only weakness is the Jaguars' pitching.

"I don't know what we will have on the mound," said Bartow. "We definitely have to find some pitching somewhere."

Starting pitcher Jorge Dryjanski agreed.

"That's half the game of baseball," he said. "If you don't have pitching then you don't have anything."

The southpaw will be looked upon to fill the big shoes of Nuno.

"We don't have a single starting pitcher returning from last year," said Dryjanski. "We are going to have to get better on the mound."

Offense was something SWC lacked last season. The Jaguars finished second to last in the PCC with a team average of .289.

"Last year we didn't really hit the ball very well," said sophomore Dennis. "We have to be able to give our pitchers some cushion."

Dennis brings speed as he leads the PCC in stolen bases with 19. The center fielder also led the team in walks (28) and runs scored (35).

Dennis said he believes he can help his team even more when it comes to small ball.

"I'm not the biggest guy on the field," said Dennis. "So I have to help my team in other ways like stealing and bunting."

As one of the lone returning starters Bartow has asked Dennis to take on another role.

"He talked to us about being leaders," said Dennis. "I am not the most talkative guy on the field, the returning starters are going to have to be a little more vocal."

Bartow hopes the answer to their need at the plate will come in the form of 260-pound freshman Ryan Farris.

The Jaguars' first baseman is hard to miss on the field. He looks like Bartow plucked him from a farm somewhere in Kansas while Farris was finishing his chores.

"I just want to hit the ball far and hard," said Farris. "I want to help the team be the best that we can. Hopefully I can hit the ball over the fence once in a while."

SWC was scheduled to open the season January 25 against Mt. San Jacinto but the game was postponed due to rain. The very next day was canceled as well in what was to have been a doubleheader against Chaffey College.

"These guys want to get out there and play," said Bartow. "They are getting tired of playing themselves."

A solid defense and some pitching are needed to propel this young team to another PCC title.

"We are going to surprise some people," said Dennis. "We are a lot better than people think."