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Off-Season Kind to Nicolas 1/7/2004
Off-Season Kind to Nicolas With Vanderbilt’s first spring baseball game less than two short months away, one Commodore team leader has high expectations for the upcoming season. And with good reason. Senior first baseman Cesar Nicolas expects to see his team build on the success it achieved late last season with its first trip to the SEC Tournament since 1996. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I want to see us win the SEC Championship,” Nicolas said. “I think we’re capable of that.” Nicolas, who led the Commodores last year in slugging percentage, RBI’s and homeruns, points to his team’s chemistry, its leadership and its hard work during the off-season as reasons why this spring’s outlook is a good one. Eight Vanderbilt players, including Nicolas, spent this past summer in the Cape Cod League, arguably the nation’s top showcase of collegiate baseball talent. Nicolas’ team, the Orleans Cardinals, won the league championship. “It was the first championship I’ve ever won at any level,” Nicolas said. But that wasn’t the only honor he took home. Nicolas also won the league’s homerun derby, was named playoff MVP and received All-League honors along with Commodore teammates Warner Jones (So.), Ryan Klosterman (Jr.) and Jeremy Sowers (Jr.) — the most ever to represent one school on the Cape’s All-League team. After solid summer performances, Nicolas and teammates carried their momentum into fall ball. “Personally I wanted to use the fall to keep refining my game and get better on my weaknesses,” Nicolas said. “As a team, we got a lot done. The main goal was for the new guys to learn the system, and they caught on quickly.” Sixteen new guys in fact. But, as one of the team’s three seniors, Nicolas said that what his younger teammates lack in physical age, they make up for in mental maturity “in terms of the game of baseball.” He also credits his veteran teammates for “setting a good tone and making sure everyone is pulling in the same direction.” Nicolas knows how important attitude can be. Last season, he overcame a serious injury to the head that doctors told him would keep him from playing. But, he proved them wrong when he returned in time for the first game and posted outstanding numbers all season long. “I think mental determination and lots of support helped me to get back so fast,” Nicolas said. “It was tough at the time, but stuff like that builds character and shows you things about yourself.” One thing Nicolas already knows and plans to show everyone else in coming months is the legitimacy of this year’s team. With a strong pitching staff led by Sowers and heavy hitters like Klosterman and Jones, no one should be surprised to see the Commodores take it to the next level. “The ultimate goal is the College World Series [in Omaha, Neb.],” Nicolas said. “If you don’t strive to make it to the ultimate place, you’re selling yourself short. “We realize there’s other things we have to do first, but if we don’t shoot for the biggest stage in college baseball, we’re selling ourselves short.” |
