Mercer means new era for baseball

The collegiate “ping” of a ball striking a bat can currently be heard around campus. Baseball is on the horizon.

The men’s team is practicing in preparation of its new season beginning in February. On tour this year will be 25 players following lessons from a new head coach.

Coach Corey Mercer will begin leading the Blazers into the next era of winning hardball.

Mercer is setting the bar high. “My goal for this year is to win the national championship,” said Mercer. “That would be a good start. Conference first and then nationals.”

Mercer knows this program well. After graduating from Irving‘s MacArthur High, he played shortstop while obtaining his associate‘s degree at North Lake. After two years, he studied and played baseball at the University of North Carolina in Ashville, then returned home to Texas, where he received an economics degree at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Mercer returned to North Lake in 2001 as assistant baseball coach under coach Steve Cummings.

“I learned a whole lot from Cummings,” said Mercer. “Now he has given me a great start. This is where I want to be.”

Sticking with tradition, the Blazers will welcome contests all over the U.S. Mercer plans to continue traveling to other states and competing with as many teams as possible.

“We’ll take the team to Phoenix and New Orleans this season,” said Mercer.

Mercer plans to stay simple in his first season. “I want to keep it light and fun for the guys. I won’t try and micro-manage each game. It’s important to let the guys play and learn.”

Beginning in February, keep yours eyes open for baseball, and your heart open for a NJCAA World Series title.