UCA Bears Baseball season will officially be starting this Friday when they travel to Springfield to face the Missouri Bears. 

The Bears were supposed to play the Western Illinois Bulldogs on the 21, but the game was canceled due to inclement weather. 

This season will look different due to COVID-19 restrictions, but Headcoach Allen Gum maintains a positive attitude. 

Gum said, “It will look a little different, however being an outside sport it allows us a few more freedoms. The preparation is just staying in low-risk situations.”

The pandemic hasn’t affected practices but it does keep the boys from being able to use the locker rooms. 

“The biggest effect has been not being able to hang out in our locker-room. The locker is a special place where the camaraderie is built! A place to celebrate and to hash out the tough stuff and to know what’s said in the locker room stays in the locker room,” Gum said. 

The Bears finished last season with a record of 8-8 in conference with 7-4 at home and 1-4 away. 

The season was cut short due to the start of the pandemic. 

Gum said, “I am feeling very hopeful and thankful for our players, especially our seniors because of the shortened season last year. I feel like we have a balanced team with pitching, defense and offense.” 

Although the coach is looking forward to all games and not any one game in particular, I am personally looking forward to watching the Bears play the Arkansas Razorbacks on March 30th. 

“We try to treat each game the same, not putting any preferences on any certain game,” Gum said. 

The players have been working hard during the off season to perfect their craft and are patiently awaiting game day.

“It went really well, we had great weather all fall. The weather allowed us to lift outside and maintain staying outdoors. The players worked hard and had a great attitude through all the adjustments due to COVID-19,” Gum said. 

Lots of eyes will be on players Beau Orlando and Conner Williams as they were both selected for the first team of the Preseason All-SLC. 

There have been 15 freshman added to the team as well as four red-shirted freshman. 

Although the boys will have to wait until march to play on their own diamond, they are ready to travel this weekend and hopefully come home with a victory. Their previous record against Missouri State is 4 wins and 15 losses. At their last matchup in February of last year, the Bears won 5-2. 

The home opener will now be Friday, March 5 when the Bears host Tarleton State.