Welcome back baseball fans to the Potomac State Baseball Player Diary for the 2022 season. My name is Josh Hoffman. If you got a chance to watch the video you already know me, for those of you who did not, I play outfield here at Potomac State and I am currently in my third year as a JUCO bandit.
Starting off this year we had a lot of new and familiar faces at our first meeting in August. Everyone was anxious and excited to get things started off. For the returners, there was a sense of determination. Following up on a season in which we went 34-6 in the regular season to fall just short in the regionals left a feeling in our stomachs that we will never forget. The fall seasons are always tense because you do not know how everyone is going to connect and react to one another, but we have a close team this year and the chemistry has been great.
This fall we got lucky enough to be able to play many outside opponents. After a rough year previously where travel was an issue due to Covid-19, it was nice to be able to get back on the road against some good teams. Not only did we match up against each other in intrasquad games, but we also got to see how we stacked up against other junior colleges and even had the opportunity to play five different NCAA Division I programs. Playing Division I teams is always a challenge, but we got wins and we got better which is the most important part about the fall. The guys on this team have all worked extremely hard to get better as a team and as a player. Like every team you can always get better, but with these guys next to me I am excited to take on this season.
A highlight of the fall for me was the 100-inning game which wraps up our fall program. After weeks of practice, games and workouts the 100 Inning game is a more relaxed day that is fun, but also long. We use this game as a fundraising effort to support our program and supply our players with the best equipment. It also helps pay for things in the spring like hotels, food, and travel expenses. It is a huge day for our organization, and we are thankful to everyone that contributed.
That game was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had. All of our pitchers got to and opportunity to dust off their skills and grab a bat. My fellow diary writer this year, Dalton Benson, a PO (Pitcher-only), hit a homerun his first at bat. We could not believe it! Never in a million years was anyone, except “Benny” of course, expecting him to hit a homerun. That game was not only fun, but extremely memorable.
When we returned from winter break in Januray and we have all got back into the swing of things here with classes and practices both underway. Pitchers have started throwing and hitters have gone back to work to get ready for the season!
We have a lot planned for these diaries. Saying that, if you have anything you would like to see in the diaries or learn more about, you can contact me on twitter Twitter (@joshbv12). Also, be sure to follow the team on social media as well!