Head coach is a stressful position in any sport. In baseball, a lot of pressure comes with the job since the coach has to consider many different aspects of the game while making decisions.
When it comes to the ASU club baseball team, it’s up to senior David Rozas to set up the game plan and execute it.
Rozas grew up in Palos Verdes, Calif., where he began playing baseball at 3 years old. After finishing his career at Peninsula High School, he had to choose whether to continue playing baseball at the collegiate level on scholarship or attend school for purely academic interests.
Rozas had offers from various Division II and Division III schools, and even a few at the Division I level from the University of San Diego and Hawaii.
“I chose ASU not for baseball, but for school and to try to live somewhere different than the beach, where I have been my whole life,” Rozas said.
Previous players and coaches of the club baseball team named him head coach after he wrapped up his first three years playing, this is in addition to his duties as the team’s club president and third baseman.
“It's hard to do both because when you are playing you do not want to think about to much stuff, but having to make sure I put the right people in certain situations can get a little overwhelming,” Rozas said.
As the club president and the head coach, it’s up to Rozas to take care of all of the aspects of the team. Whether it be getting games scheduled or making the tough decision of who gets cut, it’s his job to make sure the team runs smoothly.
“It is a very hard task because I have to juggle school, play my own game and make sure we win,” he said.
The ASU club baseball team has succeeded over the years, but finished just short of the National Club Baseball Association regionals behind rival UA last year. Rozas looks to help ASU put together another winning season and get the Sun Devils past the Wildcats for a shot at the NCBA World Series.
“We do not have the biggest team, but we have the fastest, most hard-nosed players out there,” Rozas said. “There is no reason why we shouldn’t make the World Series this year.”
It will be up to Rozas to make the right decisions both on the field and in the dugout if he wants his team to do well this season. However, with an experienced senior such as Rozas at the helm, the Sun Devils are in position to make a run to the 2012 NCBA World Series.
Reach the reporter at talopez3@asu.edu
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