Talladega College baseball had a really good fall semester in the classroom and on the baseball field. Head Coach Marcos Dominguez and his coaching staff have been working a lot on the development of his players this fall, making them stronger and smarter on the baseball field.
According to Dominguez, “It has been said we are spending a lot of time in the weight room and working on the small things that can help us win ball games.”
Talladega finished last season 28-18 overall and 17-6 in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). The Tornadoes finished last year ranked No. 3 among HBCU baseball small school teams nationally and received votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll.
About the players, they have the entire lineup coming back which includes all nine starters and the entire pitching staff. Players from a year ago who won big ball games against nationally ranked teams include Darlin Fernandez, Miguel Oropeza, Rafael Diaz , Armando Jackson, Jahil Cruz, Jose Santiago, Nomar Garcia and Isaac Guzman.
They added a couple of new players that Dominguez thinks will help them a lot this coming year like Victor Rivera, a freshman from Puerto Rico and Jonathan Williams, a transfer from LeMoyne-Owen. Also the entire pitching staff is back in Jose Franco, Juan Pena, Helson Fernadez, Ramses Ortega and Samuel Guadamuz. Talladega also added Jose Daniel, a LHP JUCO transfer and a couple more freshmen who will help win a lot of games on the mound.
Dominguez added depth to the roster, especially to an all ready good pitching staff were he has hard throwers who could become starters or working out of the bullpen to close games.