One swing, a ground ball that junior Adam Peters scoops up and steps on second for Millikin baseball to defeat the University of Illinois. That is not just a dream, that happened in the fall. Now, the real season starts. Expectations weigh as heavy as ever, especially after that fall scrimmage against the premier college team in Illinois.

Unfortunately for the team, there is no rest. The CCIW is a tough conference to contend with, but they are ready. The seniors have four years under their belt and they know how to reach their goal, no matter how difficult it may be. And it is not going to be easy. Making the conference tournament for the first time in school history is a long road.

It is a long time coming for a team that won just nine games four years ago. While none of the players on this year’s team were part of that low point, they still feel the effects. It took time for them to even gain respect from conference teams. Now, they have it, and it will take only one more step to make school history.

“It’s going to come down to winning the tough road games in conference and just playing our game,” Peters said. “If we stay disciplined and focused at the plate and in the field, we feel like we can really compete in this league with the team we have.”

This is a team that just a year ago posted a sub .500 winning percentage in conference games. That being said, they won more series than they lost. This season, senior Jake Drada is focused on game three of each series, a game where the team had its share of struggles last season.

Staying focused through a three game series over a weekend is a tall task. It is a long 27 innings of baseball, and it can be a killer for teams if things don’t go well. In a lineup sure to be filled with upperclassmen, they know what to expect and can do what it takes.

It is that same lineup that has carried the team the last few years. The pitching is oft injured and the offense has done its share to carry the load. It needs to continue that this season as well in order to place this team in the history books.

The hitters will be led largely by their outfield. Seniors Drada, Julian Gutierrez, and Devin Crews are all coming off good seasons that they hope to build on. Junior center fielder Mason Bruce rounds out mainstays at the top of the order game in and game out.

“I believe the ability we have to score runs will keep our heads in the game, and give confidence to the other areas of the team,” Drada said.

The state of the pitching staff is largely unknown to this point. Junior Adam Zuk is out for the year after getting Tommy John surgery. There are two potentially key pitchers set to get their first real opportunity in a Millikin uniform. Junior transfer Connor Gross is slated to start his first season back from injury, and after two long years, academic junior Jack Morgan will get back on the mound as well.

This staff will be led by academic senior Logan Talkington, who is now two years removed from a torn pectoral muscle. His experience will play a key role in how things shake out for the staff. A pair of freshman arms, Brent Beals and Michael Wojcik will be getting the opportunity to make splashes as well.

There is one goal in mind, and that is to make the CCIW tournament at the end of the year. In order to do that, the team must finish top four in the conference standings. It all starts in Arkansas on February 17th.

How will they do it? The same way they took down U of I in the fall.

“We need to fight every game to play better baseball than the team in the opposing dugout,” Drada said. “This year we have the confidence in each other to fight through the adversity we will surely face.”