2004 Baseball Season Preview: Welch Taking a Leadership Role
1/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Tide first baseman looking to build on success in 2004
Thursday, January 29, 2004
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By Chris Woodfin
Heading into the 2004 season, University of Alabama first baseman Zac Welch looks to build off of his breakthrough sophomore season and help the Crimson Tide return to the top of the Southeastern Conference and lead Bama back to the College World Series.
Welch, who played just a limited role during his freshman season, was Alabama’s fourth leading hitter for the 2003 squad with a .333 batting average, a mark that makes him the Tide’s leading returning hitter.
Down the stretch, Welch came up huge for Alabama, hitting safely in 20 of the final 22 games of the season, leading the Tide to the 2003 SEC Tournament championship.
Welch credits his performance during the 2003 season to being able to adjust from his freshman to sophomore seasons.
“I wouldn’t call last season a breakout season for me,” Welch said. “Mainly everything just seemed easier, from the workouts, to classes, to traveling. It wasn’t my rookie year anymore and I was able to relax more and was adjusted to playing in the SEC.”
Although the Tide came up short during the 2003 regular season, Alabama was able to overcome a disappointing regular season by Crimson Tide standards to capture the 2003 SEC Tournament title.
“Last season wasn’t really a disappointment,” Welch said. “We lost some games that we should’ve won, but we were still able to win some big series. I wish some things would have turned out differently, but we had a good team altogether and we had good chemistry on the team. We won the SEC Tournament and we went to the NCAAs.”
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“I’m not so much focused on individual goals, but I want to help the team in any way that I can to get this team back to Omaha,” Welch said. “I will do whatever it takes, whatever the team needs.”
As one of the Tide’s most experienced infielders for the 2004 season, the junior first baseman is taking it upon himself to help break in Alabama’s younger, less experienced players.
“I would like to think of myself as taking more of a leadership role for this team,” Welch said. “My freshman year we had guys like (Jeremy) Brown and (Scott) McClanahan to help out the rookies. I am trying to help the new guys out wherever I can. I can try to help them adjust to traveling and SEC competition. I just want to do whatever it takes to help this team.”
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Editor’s Note: This is the second of four-part season preview on the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team. Each position will be featured over the next four weeks, giving insight to the upcoming 2004 season, which begins Friday, Feb. 13 against the New Orleans Privateers here at the Joe.
2004 Season Preview Schedule:
Date Preview
Jan. 21 Charlie Lyons (Catchers)
Jan. 28 Zac Welch (Infielders)
Feb. 4 Matt Grooms (Outfielders)
Feb. 11 Brent Carter (Pitchers)
