The Globe

Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: photo courtesy of Athletic Department Coach Loren Torres pitches to a player during batting practice.

Coach Loren Torres has high expectations that the structure and discipline of Point Park University's men's baseball team will improve and return to its former winning ways. 

"We are not going to concentrate on wins and losses," Torres said. "I just want to make sure that at the end of the day they feel good about how they play and that we maximize their ability and let the results take care of themselves."

Over the years, Point Park baseball has had a winning history. However, the Pioneers have not made the playoffs since the 2003-04 season. Bringing in a man like Torres, a well-known and well-respected coach, is exciting for the university. Torres describes himself as an intense coach who is attentive to detail, and his style of play will show through the team's performance. Although the team is relatively young, the Pioneers are bringing back seven starters and seven pitchers from last season's lineup and have recruited a few players from outside Pennsylvania.

One of Torres' objectives this season is to enhance three aspects of the team: offense, defense and pitching.

Torres will hold game-like practices to better prepare the players for the regular season. Despite the team having a disappointing season last year, he wants each and every player to enter this season with a positive attitude and a readiness to play baseball as a team.

Dan Swalga, Point Park's director of athletics, is also excited to have Torres coach baseball because of his long list of credentials, his experience in the game and his plans to improve and discipline the team.

Swalga also said Torres will be beneficial because of his knowledge of the game. In addition, Torres has an excellent recruitment process due to the large number of contacts he has acquired from his prior jobs in the baseball world. 

"He brings experience as a head coach, experience from other parts of the country," Swalga said. "His recruiting base is larger than just Western Pennsylvania. Even though Western Pennsylvania is good ... the more you can expand the better.  A lot of what you get is referrers from other people and other places."

Swalga is confident that during this season and beyond, Torres will rebuild the foundation Point Park baseball once had and will represent the school well by doing so.

Continued...

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