New year brings new expectations for Scorpions

The University of Texas at Brownsville-Texas Southmost College Scorpions baseball team seems to have a different feel to it this year.

The Scorpions, who finished last year 24-32, return most of the team that got them there, but the big difference this year is the man leading that team, Bryan Aughney.

As an assistant coach for UTB-TSC last year, Aughney served under Joel Barta and officially took over the position in October after Barta left to coach Ridgewater College.

As Aughney finished up his first practice as a head coach, he seemed excited about what 2009 had in store for him and his team.

"It felt really good to get back out on the field. We are excited to get back together as a team," Aughney said. "Everybody made it back to school from the holidays and had a good break, but it's time to get after it."

The Scorpions will experience a change in their scheduling as well, as they will play host to a Division I program in Brownsville for the first time when the New Mexico State Aggies come to town for a two-game series April 24 and 25.

Aughney takes over a team that seemed to finish last year with a little momentum, taking third in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament, and he thinks the tournament showed what kind of team he has.

"It gives us the confidence to know that we are as good as anybody out there on any given day," Aughney said of his team's finish. "That was one of the big things we lacked last year. We were kind of unsure of ourselves, and hopefully that third-place finish proves to ourself and our own psyche that we belong on the field with every team in the conference, because I believe we do."

Aughney inherits a very young talented ballclub, led by a strong outfield of Ryan McDonald, Jose Camorlinga and Jacob Yousif, all of whom batted over .300 last year. Behind the plate will be sophomore standout Gilberto Puente, who made the all-conference team last year as a freshman.

In all, the Scorpions will have only two seniors on a roster that has already gained a lot of experience from last year.

Former Brownsville Lopez standout Juan Munoz also is excited for the year to begin and senses a change in attitude from this team.

"I expect to win," Munoz said. "Everybody passed, and we have a complete team. I feel that everybody is coming out here hungry to play. Everybody is tired of the same tradition that has been here at UTB, and everybody wants to win."

The Scorpions play their first game of the year Jan. 23 against Wayland Baptist at Scorpion Field.