TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – It was a heartbreaking end to a stellar season for Florida A&M baseball last spring. The Rattlers were one out away from a SWAC title when Bethune-Cookman hit a walk-off home run to win, ending FAMU’s season.
On Monday, the Rattlers returned to the diamond at Moore-Kittles Field to open up preseason practice.
The Rattlers return a majority of their impact players, both at the plate and on the mound.
Jamey Shouppe, now in his thirteenth season as head coach of the Rattlers, said their pitching depth is some of the best he’s ever had. He said the team has nine pitchers who can throw at least 90 miles per hour.
In terms of improvements, given how last season ended, good defense is at the top of the list.
“A lot of things have to happen in the course of a season to win a championship,” said Shouppe. “You have to get lucky at times, you have to be good most of the time, and you have to play better defensively. We would’ve won the championship last year had we not made four errors. We have a pretty good team returning, knowing also that the league, the SWAC, is very good, very competitive this year. I want to see us have a successful season by becoming more successful men and by doing that, I think that will help our baseball ability as well.”
The Rattlers kick off the season on February 13 with a four-game series against Eastern Illinois.
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