Cador, SU Baseball looks to get defensive

Solid pitching and reliable defense are two key ingredients every baseball team needs to be consistent.
The third piece to the puzzle is a consistent offense that scores runs.
In Southern’s case offense isn’t the issue. The Jaguars scored 405 runs last season, second only to Jackson State’s 490. SU also played 13 fewer games than JSU.
“It’s hard to win just with offense,” SU coach Roger Cador said. “You have to have good pitching and defense. We’re hoping that will be our strength.”
SU also had the lowest ERA in Southwestern Athletic Conference play at 5.64 and a league leading .512 slugging percentage. Still, Cador is pushing for more.
To sure up the defense Cador added three freshmen right-handed pitchers in Brian Foster, Daniel Garcia and Jeremy Morrison, but said the most important thing is to get them involved in the teams’ concept so they can understand their role.
“I think we brought in some decent arms to go with what we have,” Cador said. “The key is getting them experience.”
Cador’s other hurdle is to get his guys ready to play with games coming up against the University of San Diego, San Diego State and Bethune-Cookman. The games will be broadcast live on MLB Network.
“The biggest thing is the mental preparation when you’re taking a team forward,” Cador said. “That’s the biggest challenge to prepare a team.”
Last year the Jaguars went 0-3 in the first annual Urban Classic and SU’s Human Jukebox competed against USC. This year Bethune-Cookman’s band will perform against SU.
“The Urban Classic is turning into a wonderful event,” Cador said. “They are trying to get more young people involved so they can take an interest in it.”
Following the Urban Classic, SU will play LSU at the new Alex Box Stadium on Feb. 25. In recent years SU had played a home-and-home series with LSU, but this year the Tigers won’t return the trip.
“What we’re doing different is starting against some of the best competition in Division I to challenge ourselves,” Cador said. “Hopefully by doing so this will help us to be better as we get into conference play.”
“I think I like that kind of thing early,” Cador said. “Nobody remembers what you do early. It’s what you do late.”
The same can be said for the repairs to the outfield fence, first base dugout and backstop in Lee-Hines Field. Still, Cador said he’s optimistic the repairs are made before SU’s home opener on March 4 against Southeastern Louisiana.