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After having a win percentage of just over 25 during the last four seasons, and placing seventh in the South Coast Conference the last three seasons, Coach Evan O’Meara is hoping to turn things around for Lancer baseball in the 2009 spring season.The Lancers will begin their season on Jan. 31 when they play a double-header against at Antelope Valley.

O’Meara is entering his fourth season as the Lancer head coach and after the team’s fall season, which is strictly for evaluation, he’s confident in the group he’s selected.

“[The fall season] was a little up and down,” said O’Meara, who had 65 players try out before the fall season.

The team only had a limited amount of time to evaluate players during the fall, but the coach is very optimistic and ready for the spring.

“We wound up with a fairly deep and talented group this year and we’re looking forward to what’s about to happen,” said O’Meara.” O’Meara said. “There’s still some things to be set.”

The primary returns for the Lancers are the Academic All-American outfielder Tyler Craig, who finished the ’08 season with a .302 batting average, and starting pitcher/outfielder Roderick Martinez, who finished with .323 batting average.

O’Meara expects nothing but the best out of his players, both on and off the field, and stresses that playing in the South Coast Conference is a great opportunity for his players.

“My desire for my players always is not just to play on this level but to prepare them to play at the next,” said O’Meara. “This is a chance for them, especially our sophomores, to showcase themselves in a conference that will be the third or fourth best conference in the state of California.”

Pitchers Chris Reyes, Ryan Larson, Casey Feldmeth, Cameron Copping, and Justin Gracieux, who was out all of last season with an injury, and outfielders Max Oueellete and Enrique Reynoso are all new additions.

“[The outfield is] very fast. Some good depth,” O’Meara said. “We’ve got five guys that can rotate in and do a tremendous job. They’re all very fast and will be offensively productive as well.

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