By Kevin Casteneda

Thomas Neal runs home after teammate Levi Garrett smacks a triple (Chris Dietrich)

By Kevin Casteneda

Rising above perfection seems nearly impossible.

But the RCC men’s baseball team seems to almost be doing that.

The team started the 2006 season with six wins and no losses. But to add to the flavor of a great start, its have done all this with a new and rebuilt team.

A team in which 80 percent of the players are freshmen and the rest are sophomores.

Freshmen and sophomores who have had a defense that has been above average, an offense that has been spectacular and a pitching staff who has had six quality starts in six games.

The Tigers have started where most teams want to be. They are at a 6-0 record, cruising with great defense and solid pitching.

Coach Dennis Rogers is not amazed, but instead is really proud of how his team has been playing.

“We are making our innings ours, and not the other teams’. We are at a place where we should be,” he said.

It’s a very great place to be if you want to be a playoff contender, sooner than later.

A great start is good for a team who wants to build great momentum for the rest of the season.

Guys start understanding each other and learning how to play with one another.

So even when a game seems out of reach, or just very close, they are able to come together to work up a win.

“Outstanding pitching, we kept the innings small, and our defense played above average,” Rogers said.

When asked about their performance in their most recent game versus Mt. San Antonio Rogers was pleased.

“We work hard on defense and our pitching has great innings. Our offense scores big usually, despite our production this game,” he said.

The Tigers went to extra innings with Mt. Sac. with a 1-1 tie. But in the top of the 11th the offense came alive.

Jason Rodriguez started off with a double, who later scored when teammate Thomas Neal hit a single. Neal was soon brought in when first baseman Levi Garrett smacked a triple into the gap.

The final run of the inning immediately followed with a single from Rob Cox.

The 11th brought a 3-run burst that helped the Tigers notch another tally on the win column.

Pitcher Anthony Carrillo came out with his first victory with four and 1/3 innings pitched.

The team now has the chance to improve and really capitalize on this great start.

They have a chance to improve not only their winning streak and their record, but also their individual skills.

It would be naive to think that the team could go perfect.

But if the team were to set its goals that high, then who knows what it could achieve.

It’s a young team who seems to be hungry for more than a good season, but more like a championship season.