Spring is almost here, and at RHS that means baseball season is well on its way. Players have been training since October to be in game shape; they’re anxious to get on the field.

“We have been running, lifting, and doing drills [during off-season training], as well as doing training on our own time,” junior Allan Anderson said.

With players preparing for the new season, head coach Jason Swearingen is hoping for a good outcome.

“I expect us to be very competitive on the field. I think we have a good nucleus of kids coming back. We’ve got some good kids coming up from JV. We have several arms that can keep us in games in the front of the rotation, and good depth on the pitching staff. We have good competition all over the field. Overall, we have a great chance to be a nice ball club,” Swearingen said.

As for the players, they are excited to become mentors for the younger prospects.

“I think with my experience I’ll be able to help the younger players and prepare them for the following season,” senior David Scholl said.

While there are big rivalries with surrounding teams such as Waynesville, Lebanon, and Blue Springs South, some players are more focused on our progress at home.

“I’m definitely looking forward to our home games because if we win at home, I feel that it will set the pace for the rest of the season,” Anderson said.

Coach Swearingen has high hopes for the graduating seniors of 2011.

“We’re looking for leadership from the seniors coming out this year; also hoping to get those guys on the field as much as possible. We’d like for them to be good role models for the younger players that are coming into the program and show them how we do things the Rolla High School way,” Swearingen said.