Note: This journal is being kept by Concordia head coach Bucky Burgau in the attempt to help Cobber baseball fans to get a closer look at the spring trip to Arizona.

March 18-19

It has been a hectic start to our trip to Arizona.

We split on Monday with Hope College of Michigan. We played well especially since we had not been outside. Hope threw a tough lefthander at us out of the gate and we didn't handle him very well. Eddie Massee pitched well but we just didn't give him enough run support. In the second game we got strong four innings from Jake Torrison on the mound. After giving up a big lead late, freshman Michael Carlson delivered a two-out walkoff single to help us win our first game of 2008.

On Tuesday we locked horns with Knox College out of Illinois. Scott Schumacher pitched six strong innings in the opener and the Cobbers prevailed 7-4. We played well in all phases of the game in this one and hope it is a sign of things to come.

In the second we got hooked up in a see-saw battle and came out on the short end of an 8-7 score. It was our second extra-inning game of the year. In both games, we hit the ball really well and scored a lot of runs. We didn't play as well in the field as we would of liked but we do think the strength of our team will be defense.

We look forward to our remaining six games here in Arizona after an off day on Wednesday. We will take part in a Cobber alumni function tomorrow after the game. One of the great things about Arizona has been all of the Cobber alums here. We have seen many of those people at our games.

Bucky

March 17

All of the travel went well, the baseball team made it safe and sound to Arizona.

We didn't get a chance to practice as we landed a bit late and we needed to get into the motel and get the guys fed. That was ok as we will get plenty of baseball this week.

The weather forecast looks great for the week. We line up against Hope College of Michigan today. As in past years, we will approach this trip with the same goals in mind. Win the games, play a lot of players and find out more about our team. I learned that from my father-in- law who was also my assistant coach for 13 seasons. We are about winning, and we should be, but also to give all of our guys a chance to play the game. We wouldn't of brought them along if we didn't think they were good players.

Eddie Massee and Jake Torrison will get the nod on the mound today. Eddie broke into our starting rotation last year as a freshman. Jake is a freshman and will be starting, and playing, in his first college game.

On a personal note, I am dedicating this season to Sonny Gulsvig my father-in-law who passed away this past Thursday. He left me with a dugout full of coaching lessons that will always be applied with Sonny in my thoughts.

Bucky