Seniors Draws and Monaghan Excited for 2016
2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Seniors Draws and Monaghan Excited for 2016
By Taylor Garcia of Air Force Athletic Communications
Air Force baseball starts the 2016 season on Feb. 19 against Buffalo. Despite having a two-man senior class, its smallest in recent years, the two more than make up for it in terms of talent and, more importantly, the desire for success in their final season. The two seniors, Trent Monaghan and Spencer Draws have stepped into leadership roles and are ready to raise the bar for Falcon baseball after coming off a successful 2016 campaign. Draws was an all-conference outfielder for the Falcons last season and Monaghan was recently tabbed the 2016 as the Mountain West preseason pitcher of the year by Baseball America.
"As an underclassmen you don't have any responsibility, you're just here to play ball," Draws said. "But now, we focus on getting the guys to buy in every day."
"We are taking a more active role in developing the team; the mentality has changed and we are unified under the same goal," Monaghan added.
It has been a challenge for the two as the only seniors remaining in their class while other classmates have gone on to do other things. They feel good knowing that they stayed and help make the program what it is.
The two have felt the growing pains, but each has had a huge role in its growth. During their freshmen year, the team went 4-17 in Mountain West play. However, by their junior year, the team had improved to a respective 11-17 in MW games and posted 22 wins against Div. I opponents, setting a new school record for wins against Div. I opponents.
"The work ethic has changed within the team," Monaghan said. "This is also the hardest working freshmen class we have had in a while."
After seeing what the team has done so far in fall and early spring practices, the two seniors have high goals going into this season. Their two main goals are winning the Mountain West and making it to Omaha for the College World Series. They also wouldn't mind beating Navy at the Freedom Classic and breaking some school records, including winning more than the 23 games from a season ago.
The duo wants to end on a strong note and leave a legacy. Monaghan wants to improve on his stats from last year and hopes to put himself in a position to get drafted by a Major League Baseball team at the end of the season.
Each senior has had to grow into the role that they now hold. Draws started out as a second baseman, then moved out to the outfield the past two seasons. Due to team needs, Draws anticipates a move back to the infield, most likely at second.
"It isn't important to me where I play as long as I'm playing the position that I will help the team in the best way I can," said Draws.
Monaghan, a left handed pitcher, had to adjust from his role his freshman year to now. Beginning his first two years as a relief pitcher, then moving to the starting position midway through his junior season, it took a mental adjustment for his career to take off last year.
"I have a lot more responsibility now and my mentality had to change," Monaghan said. "I knew I had to prove myself and not be timid, but throw with confidence. I like playing for my teammates. It keeps me focused."
Most baseball players tend to be very superstitious, but the two seniors claim this year's Falcons aren't too enamored with superstitions but that it's more about just getting in the right mindset to compete. The team does have a daily game routine, preparing for games with a pregame jam session in the locker room before they head out to the field. Like any players, the seniors have their different ways of preparing for the game on top of the pregame fire-up session. Monaghan makes sure to say a prayer before each game, but Draws has a few specific things that always have to happen.
From making sure his eye black is correct to buying the same candy before each plane ride, Draws makes sure his routine is always the same.
"I set up the same after every pitch," Draws said. "After a good game, I wear the same clothes for the next one, after I wash them. And I start every game with a piece of gum. If I get a hit then I keep it, if I don't I spit it out."
They admit that balancing school and playing was difficult during the freshmen and sophomore year, but as they have moved onto their upperclass years, they have grown accustomed to the balance.
"It really is a full time job," Monaghan, a social sciences major, said. "But I do better during season because road games are so structured around school and homework."
Aside from his days spent playing baseball, Monaghan is currently working with Remotely Piloted Aircrafts (RPA's), a career field he hopes to get into. Once he fulfills his commitment to the Air Force, he'd like to become a business developer. Draws, a management major, will become a logistics officer upon graduation and would like to continue in something similar whether he remains in the Air Force or not.
