Fall Growth

Oct. 22, 2015

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa baseball team had a roller coaster of a fall, but third-year head coach Rick Heller is pleased with the team’s progress.

“The fall went well,” said Heller. “We had ups and downs, and we knew that was going to happen with the number of new players. Anytime you lose the leadership we lost with the seniors last season, you’re going to have days where there is a learning curve going on.

“Overall, we gelled the last couple weeks of the fall. The guys worked hard and did a nice job establishing the effort and energy that we wanted and the drive we need to keep the program moving forward.”

Heller is impressed with the team’s 16 newcomers. Junior college transfer Mason McCoy continued where he left off following his MVP season in the Northwoods League (he played for the La Crosse Loggers in Wisconsin) over the summer, and freshmen Robert Neustrom, Luke Farley, and Zach Daniels hit the ground running.

“Mason had a great start the first four weeks, he tore it up offensively and did a nice job defensively,” said Heller. “Neustrom came in and swung the bat well, and Farley had a good fall offensively.

“Daniels had a strong fall both on the mound and at the plate. He was one of our leading hitters as a freshman; he played a lot of second base and in the outfield. We’re trying to find the right fit.”

For the Hawkeyes to build on their 2015 success, Heller says the freshmen “need to be sophomores” by Christmas. He thinks the newcomers are on the right path as they enter a critical time of the year.

“The next couple months are going to be big as we step into our offseason conditioning,” he said. “Our strength coach, Zach Walrod, will do a great job. So much gets done during that time in the weight room, and that helps with team chemistry. You have to work hard and go through adversity and tough times to pull together.”

The team unity and togetherness was a trait of the 2015 team that won 41 games, including the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 1972. Heller says the type of chemistry is developed over time.

“(Building the team chemistry) starts with the leadership of the seniors and captains,” he said. “We have to do a good job as coaches, and we’re off to a good start. We’re on a good pace to get there.

“Any time you bring in 16 new faces, it will take a while for that to happen; it’s not magic. There is a lot of trust there and the work ethic you develop going through tough times helps build chemistry.

“We’ll do a good job of that this offseason and our seniors will do a great job, and hopefully we’ll be there by the start of the season.”

The Hawkeyes open the 2016 season on the road against NCAA Regional qualifier Dallas Baptist from Feb. 19-21. Iowa’s home opener is scheduled for March 8 or 9, hosting Northwestern (Iowa) College at Duane Banks Field.