Baseball ready for 2021 season

Buccaneer fans, rejoice — ETSU’s baseball team is preparing to swing into the upcoming 2021 season.  

ETSU baseball head coach Joe Pennucci has been working with his players during practice and some inter-squad scrimmages, strengthening the team.

“I do think our pitching depth is strong,” Pennucci said. “There’s a lot of different looks that we can give guys on the mound, and I do think that we will be able to defend.” 

A way to keep the team involved and inspired, Pennucci revealed the team has been talking with some big-league players and ETSU alumni. 

“We had a lot of zoom calls with former players, and we had big-league managers to big-league players to different people to just speak to them to kind of keep them engaged,” Pennucci said. “The overall goal is to play, the shutdown was devastating obviously, but these guys have worked and they’re really anxious to get after it.”

“I’m excited for them to play,” Pennucci continued. “You know, win, lose or draw, the most important is to get back on the field because we saw how that feels when you really can’t do it anymore, it’s certainly frustrating.”

It has been almost a year since sporting events had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the Bucs baseball, getting back out and playing against teams is something the team is excited for.

“When you’ve had such a long layoff, hitting a fungo and throwing [batting practice] just gets you back to feeling like you’re normal again,” Pennucci explained. “You’re talking about things, but now you’re actually doing things. In the fall we were pretty lucky, and getting our team ready is part of it, too.”

Pennucci went on to explain that even though baseball plays an integral role in his duties, there are other large life lessons at play.

“I didn’t get into coaching to yell at guys and feel like I needed to tell them what to do,” Pennucci said. “I got into it to make relationships and try to develop them into good players and guys that will end up being good husbands, good workers and good citizens down the road.”

“Once you’re around them every day and hanging out and doing what we do, it makes you feel good just being around the guys and seeing them play and seeing them go after it,” Pennucci concluded. “Nothing is like being around your players and being with them, which I enjoy doing every day.” 

The team kicks off their season opener in a triple-header against Northern Kentucky at home in Thomas Stadium on Feb. 19.