Spring Break
Some big shoes to fill
Junior infielder Jason Ogata gets his first crack at becoming a full-time infielder for OSU
Kye Johnson
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Sports
The Beavers kick off the 2008 season as two-time defending national champions, and in both championship seasons, Barney was viewed as one of the team leaders, especially last year.
"We're going to miss Darwin this year, but we don't have him and we're going to have to step up."
It's not making up for Barney statistically that worries Ogata, but rather the leadership that no longer is a given without Barney around.
"His competitiveness is amazing," Ogata said about Barney. "He's a pretty unique guy where he can be fun around you when you're not around the game, and then all of a sudden he just turns it on. And I love that about him. He is a competitor when he plays and he made all of the players around him better, and that's what I'm trying to do."
How well the Beavers will fare without Barney is another story. But Ogata and the Beavers are ready to find out what kind of a team they will be this spring.
When asked which players need to step up and perform right away, Ogata said, "It's not just one guy. I think we have a lot of guys and a lot of transfers that are going to make a major impact this season that a lot of people aren't expecting."
"But we need our freshman pitchers to step up right away," he said. "We're going against some top 10 teams in the nation, and if they aren't ready, those other teams are going to let us know."
Ogata and the Beavers will soon find out their fate as they take off for Arizona to play in the DeMarini Invitational starting Friday.
Kye Johnson, sports editor
sports@dailybarometer.com
"We're going to miss Darwin this year, but we don't have him and we're going to have to step up."
It's not making up for Barney statistically that worries Ogata, but rather the leadership that no longer is a given without Barney around.
"His competitiveness is amazing," Ogata said about Barney. "He's a pretty unique guy where he can be fun around you when you're not around the game, and then all of a sudden he just turns it on. And I love that about him. He is a competitor when he plays and he made all of the players around him better, and that's what I'm trying to do."
How well the Beavers will fare without Barney is another story. But Ogata and the Beavers are ready to find out what kind of a team they will be this spring.
When asked which players need to step up and perform right away, Ogata said, "It's not just one guy. I think we have a lot of guys and a lot of transfers that are going to make a major impact this season that a lot of people aren't expecting."
"But we need our freshman pitchers to step up right away," he said. "We're going against some top 10 teams in the nation, and if they aren't ready, those other teams are going to let us know."
Ogata and the Beavers will soon find out their fate as they take off for Arizona to play in the DeMarini Invitational starting Friday.
Kye Johnson, sports editor
sports@dailybarometer.com
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Comments by registered users are approved by default.