Mercer Baseball Coach: ‘I’d Rather be Picked First Than Last’

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Mercer’s baseball team is usually off on Mondays, but the Bears hit the diamond a day ahead of schedule in case the weather knocks out practice on Tuesday.

Once all the rain and ice gets out of the way, it’s looking like a beautiful weekend for the Bears’ opening series this weekend against High Point University.

Mercer is fresh off a program record 37 regular season wins last year.  The team finished with an overall record of 43 and 18, making it to the NCAA Regionals.

They return most of that talent this year, which explains why they’re first place in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason poll.

“I try to tell our guys, I think pressure–it’s a privelege to have that,” Craig Gibson, Mercer’s head coach, says.  “I’ll be honest, I’d rather be picked first than last. Generally, the coaches have a feel for what kind of team’s coming back. All of it’s based on last year, but we like our team. They’ve worked hard. It’s a fun group to be around. They’re very mature. They’re very excited about getting to play.”

The Bears kick off 10 straight home games Friday at 4 against High Point.  They’ll play the Panthers again on Saturday at 2 and on Sunday at 1.

Conference play starts March 14 against Kennesaw State.  It’s the Bears’ last season in the A-Sun; they’ll move to the Southern Conference next season.