ELAC’s Field of Dreams is Ready for a New Season
by Stephen Morales
To paraphrase the great Vin Scully: "It's Time for Huskies Baseball!"
It's been nearly two years after East LA College last competed on the baseball diamond. Thankfully it's almost time to hear the crack of the bat, enjoy a box of peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and take in the smell of the chalk as the Huskies kick off their 2022 season with the home opener on Friday January 28th against Glendale at 5pm.
Things have changed a lot in the last two years, and the biggest change will be seen in the Huskies dugout: longtime head coach James Hines retired last summer after 24 years as the skipper, and his assistant coach Alec Adame is now the main man in the dugout serving as interim head coach.
Coach Adame has a long and decorated career in baseball. The Chico State alum is a former professional baseball scout who served within the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and St. Louis Cardinals organizations. As the lead assistant to Coach Hines, he helped the Huskies to five playoff appearances, and two South Coast Conference Championships. Coach Adame will certainly look to build upon the foundation set by Coach Hines and look to lead the Huskies into the next chapter.
As the team looks forward to the home opener, Coach Adame offered some Q-and-A on his new role and the new season.
SM: How does it feel to finally be back on the baseball field after so many months?
AA: We are really excited to be back on the field after so many months! It feels really good to have an opportunity to get our baseball student-athletes back on the field preparing and competing for roles, and the upcoming 2022 season!
SM: What was it like to finally reconnect with your team?
AA: Having the opportunity to reconnect with our team has been great! The challenge of implementing the team concept, competition, and preparation has been good for our guys in each opportunity in practice!
SM: How have workouts been going so far?
AA: Workouts and practices have been good! I, and the rest of the coaching staff love to get our student- athletes to play as hard as they can, and to play fast, but under control during every workout and opportunity on the field!
SM: Any added pressure in replacing a ELAC legend like Coach James Hines?
AA: James Hines is a great friend to myself and my family! He has always been a mentor to me and our coaching staff as well! So, there will always be some pressure, but we know and understand what this is about… It's about preparing our student-athletes for the next level in the matriculation process! James was second to none with this concept!
SM: What is your outlook for the season?
AA: We know every one of our opponents is going to be really good! Everyone is backed up with good and much older players because of the pandemic. It is going to be a great, but exciting challenge of competition this year!
SM: Who are some players to keep an eye out for this season?
AA: Daniel Vierra C/INF, Mike Easter C/INF, Julian Tellez RHP/1B and Isaias Miramontes RHP
Coach Adame certainly seems ready for the task at hand as the ELAC community looks forward to seeing his Huskies on the diamond this season. In turn, the Pack can finally look forward to enjoying the roar of the crowd, lots of strikeouts on the mound, and hopefully plenty of runs scored this year.
PLAY BALL, HUSKIES!