Published: March 02, 2007
The Captain's Corner features insights from each of the St.
John's baseball team's three senior co-captains - second baseman
Sam DeLuca, outfielder
Chris Joachim and catcher
Brendan Monaghan. In the fourth installment of a weekly series
on RedStormSports.com, Monaghan talks about the team's 10-day
Spring Break trip, the end of a hitting streak and the players that
have impressed him thus far.
Evidence that all '0-fors' look the same,
you flied out in a pinch-hit appearance and snapped a 16-game
hitting streak last weekend. How much did you think about
that?
Brendan Monaghan: I really wasn't
thinking about it at all. Going into the season I realized I
still had the hitting streak going from last year but never gave it
any thought during the games. I would just try and go up each
at bat with a good approach, looking for a good pitch to hit.
At what point when you were younger did
you realize that playing college, and potentially professional,
baseball was a possibility?
BM: I would say in high school. I made
the varsity baseball team as a sophomore and my high school coach
gave me a lot of responsibility as a young player so I knew he
expected a lot of me. Playing in college was one of my goals and I
knew if I worked hard, I would be able to play at the next
level.
Which players look to have improved the
most since last year, and which freshman player has impressed you
the most?
BM: The pitching staff as a whole has
really come along the most. Last season, we had a lot of freshmen
come in and make significant contributions to the team, and they
have continued to make adjustments and improve themselves this
year.
Brian Kemp is probably the freshman that has impressed me the
most. He has come in and solidified himself in centerfield and at
the top of the lineup.
On Friday, you get to catch for your
friend and roommate Matt Tosoni. Does being so close have any
advantages or disadvantages when it comes to communicating out
there?
BM: Matt and I have talked about being
able to play together since our freshman year. Our personalities
are different, but I think that is what makes us such great friends
and allows us to work so well together on the field. He's such a
great competitor that it makes it fun and easy to catch him.
Is a 10-day baseball trip more exciting
for the baseball or daunting for the time away from home?
BM: I think this 10-day trip is
exactly what the team needs right now. We've struggled so far
this season and the weather back home hasn’t been that great. Being
away for 10 days, play seven games and have some good days of
practice in nice weather will be ideal for the team to continue to
improve and play good baseball.