The grass is getting greener, the birds are starting to chirp, and the bats are swinging once again! Baseball season is on its way and it is shaping up to be a good year for the Trojans. The Trojans who where eliminated in the second round of the playoff’s last season are coming back with a stronger team this season, “The team is looking real good, probably one of the better teams we have had in a while. We have got a lot of pitching this year which we usually don’t.” Head coach Dino Nomicos said at practice on the 23 as the team prepared for their first pre-season games against LA’s Barstow Vikings on the 26 and on the 27. “We have 19 pre-season games so I would like us to be about 14-5 by the end, to open up conference play.” Nimicos added. The team has a strong group of players this season including returning left fielder Rashad Taylor and center fielder Jarrod Esquibel, who feel that the team is looking very strong this season. Jarrod Esquibel feels that the team has improved their pitching immensely, “Last year we had a lot of injuries to our pitching staff, this year we have four or five guys that can hit [pitch] 90 miles an hour.” said Esquibel. Esquibel continued with how much their hitting has improved as well: “We have got guys up and down the line up that can hit the ball out of the park.” Left fielder Rashad Taylor feels that the team has a very good season a head of them, and that they are stronger in most aspects of play. The Trojans have a history of being a very good team sending lots of players on to four year school teams and in the last seven years the Trojans have produced ten all-Americans, and has had 7 players move on to sign contracts with major league teams after they have left and went on to four year schools. Taylor, left fielder for the Trojans, has been drafted by Philadelphia Philli’s a National team in the Major League. “I was happy when it happened but I want to get a season under my belt and see if I can go on to the next level. I am staying focused on this season.” said Taylor. The next Trojans home game is on Tuesday the 30 at 2 p.m. and the following Friday at 2 p.m.