LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech baseball took another step toward its long-awaited return to competition on Friday when the Red Raiders held their first team practice of the spring inside Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park with three weeks to prepare for the weekend. inaugural in Arlington.
The Red Raiders took to the field in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Wednesday, March 11, for what became the last game of the 2020 season. A day later, the NCAA canceled its winter and spring championships. The Big 12 followed on Friday. That was it.
More than 320 days have passed and for the head coach Tim Tadlock, it has felt much longer.
“It feels like it was three years ago,” Tadlock said. “Last spring, those 20 games that we played, it’s pretty cloudy. I think it is partly because it was finished very quickly. (February 19) will feel like Opening Day without playing in three years. “
The COVID-19 pandemic ended a campaign that saw the Red Raiders start 16-3 and rise to the top of the polls for the first time since 1997. Tech recorded memorable victories over No. 9 Florida State, No. 15 Stanford, Houston and Rice.
Twenty-four letter winners return from the 2020 team, which was aiming for its fourth Big 12 title in five years and returning to Omaha for the fifth time in seven years.
Notable returnees include right-hander Micah Dallasgardener Dylan Neuse and infielder Cal Conley, all of which have received All-America preseason accolades. The trio, along with the receiver Nate Rombach, were named by league coaches as the preseason All-Big 12, and Neuse won the preseason Player of the Year award from the preseason Big 12.
Tech welcomes another highly touted group of newcomers to the fold. The 2020 signing class was ranked 17th by D1Baseball and 23rd by Perfect Game. Additionally, Perfect Game named the Tech Junior College tour the best in the country. Among the 19 newcomers, Tadlock was replenishing his pitching staff with 14 arms and six lefties after seeing his starters Friday and Saturday in the first three rounds of the 2020 MLB Draft and senior. John McMillon sign a free agent contract.
While the full 2021 schedule is still being finalized, Tech has its opening weekend plans and knows its Big 12 schedule. The Red Raiders open the year with five other top-10 teams at the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington on Rangers’ Globe Life Field.
The Big 12 list begins a month after the season opener when the Red Raiders host Oklahoma State at Rip Griffin Park for a three-game series March 19-21. Local time also features TCU, Baylor and Kansas.
Ticket and television information will be announced at a future date.
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