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But make no mistake about it, the final preparations for USC Beaufort's second baseball season have begun.
The Sand Sharks ended their winter hibernation Monday with a brisk workout at their home park at Hardeeville's Richard Gray Baseball Complex, spending most of the three hours or so in the chilly conditions working on fielding drills, agility exercises and some basic hitting drills.
"At least for the first three or four days, we're just focused on fundamentals," USCB coach Rick Sofield said. "Once you start taking (batting practice), you're worried about how far it goes and where it lands. We don't need to be thinking about that yet."
The pitchers will make their way to the bullpen today, the hitters will take full batting practice later this week, and within the next two weeks, the team will begin its regular intrasquad scrimmages in preparation for the start of the season, which is only a little more than a month away on Feb. 6.
USCB returns most of the key players from last year's squad that went 33-21 and finished fourth in the Sun Conference, and it has added several players who will compete for starting spots.
SHUFFLING THE DECK: A couple of players worked out at new positions Monday, as Sofield tries to clear up the pictures in the crowded outfield and behind the plate. Most notably, sophomore Paul Cheeks and junior Brandon Collins worked out with the infielders. Cheeks was the starting left fielder last year before he was lost for the season and was granted a medical redshirt, and Collins transferred from South Georgia College, where he was a catcher. Both are competing for time at first base along with T.J. Kemp and Jon Schmidt, though Collins is more likely to find his way into the lineup as the designated hitter. Even with the moves, the Sand Sharks are still carrying five catchers and seven outfielders, which will allow Sofield to employ his preferred method of slotting the players with the hottest bats into the lineup and give him more flexibility with the lineup during doubleheaders.
THE DEPARTED: Three pitchers from the fall roster were absent Monday, leaving the bullpen a bit thinner than expected. The Sand Sharks will be without junior Nick Rhodes (academics) and senior Kevin Koehn (transfer), and it also appears they've lost Cory Burgess, who did not return to USCB after the holiday break, Sofield said. All three are right-handed pitchers. Rhodes, a knuckleballer, went 3-2 with a 7.23 ERA in 13 appearances (seven starts) last season, while Koehn was 1-0 with a 4.41 ERA in 13 relief appearances. Burgess, a junior transfer from USC Sumter, was expected to compete for the closer's role.
INJURY REPORT: As one would expect for the first day of practice, the list of injured players was short, though sophomore pitcher Kyle McCullough was limited to riding an exercise bike because of an ankle injury suffered while running. McCullough, a right-hander who went 2-1 with a 4.81 ERA and a team-leading five saves last season, expects to be limited for another week but should be ready for the start of the season.
QUOTABLE: "Nobody feels like hitting in this. Hit one the wrong way and you might be done for the year. If you go out fishing and get seasick the first time, you don't want to go out fishing anymore." -- Sofield on not taking batting practice in Monday's cold weather
LOOKING AHEAD: The Sand Sharks have 52 regular-season games scheduled before the Sun Conference Tournament on May 9-12 in Fort Myers, Fla. They open the season at home with a noon game against Benedict College on Feb. 6.
