Baseball Enjoys Day Off

Nov. 16, 2009

With their obligations as student athletes and the demands that are placed on them, there aren't many opportunities for our players to enjoy time away from campus. Combining the time that they put in toward athletics, academics and community service, they put in more hours than most of the adult work force. So when they have an opportunity to get away and experience one of the most amazing and diverse areas in the country, they plan accordingly and get the most out of it.

This past Sunday, several members of the team headed south down the beautiful California coast to a little town called Princeton by the Sea. Just before Half Moon Bay, this coastal town is home of the world famous Mavericks surf break. Mavericks is the site of one of the most elite and treacherous surfing competitions in the world. The competition only takes place when the waves reach epic proportions of 30' or more. Although the competition did not take place, the waves were still near legendary and awesome to behold.

"Unbelievable! Tough to put into words" was junior catcher Travis Higgs' response to the power of nature and the brave soul surfers who put their lives on the line for something that few get to experience. Senior shortstop Derek Poppert added, "It's truly impressive to see these guys so relaxed on the beach as they're about to put their life on the line and take on one of the most challenging waves in the world."

The players took a short hike around Pillar Point and enjoyed a sunny November day together, away from the challenges of school and baseball.

After watching the surfers for a few hours, the players headed to the Half Moon Bay Restaurant and enjoyed a late lunch together before heading back up the coast and to the homework that awaited them.

When asked how the day was, junior outfielder Connor Bernatz' response was "Restaurant was bomb, huge servings were a major plus, time with the crew priceless, Mavericks was sick, drive down the coast....AWESOME. All in all, an amazing day."

The day off was truly a reward for all of their hard work during the week and was spent enjoying nature, good food and each other's company. It's truly a testament to the fact that the USF baseball experience is more than baseball and school. Being a member of the USF baseball family is a special experience because of the effort that the players put into everything they do. The pay off is a first class education to accompany a college baseball experience at the highest level as well as an opportunity to serve their community in the spirit of the Jesuit tradition of service.

Here is what Head Coach Nino Giarratano had to say on the player's experience. "Twenty years from now, will anyone really remember your batting average and E.R.A? Probably not. You'll be remembered by how much you gave to the program, the quality of person and the type of teammate you were. I'm really glad the team took the opportunity to spend some time together off the field, and I believe that it will only make us stronger as we approach the challenges of the 2010 season."

Sincerely,

The Baseball Staff