New Coach and a New Look for ODU Baseball
By Jake Ullrich
Coach Chris Finwood has really been enjoying the nice weather. Not just because the sunny skies have put him in a good mood in early February, but also because it gives his team the opportunity to be on the field practicing whatever baseball actions they need much earlier than usual.
“We’ve had great weather so we’ve been trying to take advantage of this,” coach Finwood said. “The field’s been in incredible shape so we’ve gotten a lot done. We haven’t had a lot of stretches where we’ve been chased inside or can’t really do anything, so we’ve been really lucky.”
But its not just the weather that is new to this area, it is also coach Finwood’s first year here at Old Dominion. Hired June 22, Finwood coached at Western Kentucky for the past six years before arriving to Norfolk. He led the team to the NCAA Regional Final in 2009 and compiled a 190-154 record. He feels his experience there can only help an already very talented Monarchs’ team.
“We’ve got a group of older guys here that I just decided I need to give a chance and not come in with any preconceived notions,” Finwood said. “Let them become our kind of guys, and they have.”
“We’ve got great leadership, great camaraderie down here. They get along real well, they’re chemistry is great and I think they’re ready to take that next step.”
Finwood is quick to acknowledge that he is the new guy to a team that features seven returning starters, including CAA Player of the Year Josh Wright. The team has already created an identity that Finwood admits he has no plan on changing.
While the team returned many key components, they lost their Friday night ace in Kyle Hald. A number one pitcher is crucial for the success of a team, but Finwood is very confident in the rest of his rotation.
“We also got two of the three weekend starters back,” Finwood said. “So you like to think with Phil McCarthy and Ben Tomchick back that overall, our pitching staff might be stronger.”
The lineup goes through less overhaul than the rotation, headlined by Wright, but also with Chris Baker and sophomore Joey Burney, both named CAA Pre-season honorable mentions. Baker finished last season with 10 home runs and 63 RBI’s while Burney had eight and 34.
But Finwood admits the lineup has the possibility of a lot of flexibility. The team is very deep with talent and could see a lot of different looks.
“We’re going to play a lot of guys. We’ve got the ability to play some left-handed, right-handed combinations, especially in the outfield,” Finwood said. “The infield will be pretty set; we’ve got four seniors who are going to start. It’s nice to have that veteran presence.”
Wright will bat in the middle of the lineup and be responsible for a lot of the run production for the team. Luckily, he’ll be protected by Baker batting behind him, who will give the team some serious pop. It will be important for the speedy players before those two to get on base to allow them to bring them home.
Finwood admits he likes to play an aggressive style of baseball, being active on the base paths and trying to make the pitcher think about more than just the batter. But the Monarchs’ best players are more of power hitters, so expect a lot of doubles and less hit and runs.
But Finwood is known for the importance he places on defense, insisting his teams help their pitchers out by being solid behind him.
“I always believe in being a good defensive ball club,” Finwood said. “Well-coached teams are always good at defensive, it’s easy to get them excited about hitting. We want to be very good on defense.”
The Monarchs were picked to finishthird in the CAA, behind James Madison and UNC-Wilmington. Finwood admits he is new to the CAA and is excited to see how the conference plays out, but knows he has a good club and is expecting a strong showing from his Monarchs.
Coach Finwood made it simple on what the team is striving for this season, epitomizing the belief instilled into the Monarchs everyday.
“We want to be champions here, that’s what we want to do everyday.”
Photo by Elaina Ellis
