St. Thomas University’s baseball team played a Fall exhibition against the Chinese National Baseball team on a recent Saturday afternoon at Holman Stadium at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach. In the exhibition, the Bobcats defeated the Chinese National team 7-2.
The Bobcats-Chinese National game was part of a series of exhibition games for the Chinese national team as it prepares for their upcoming season and ultimately the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The event proved to be a meaningful experience for the STU team as it competed against a national team from the other side of the world, while having the opportunity to interact with the Chinese players.
“It was a great experience and we were honored as a team to have the opportunity to compete against a team of this caliber,” said senior Chris Rodriguez, the starting pitcher for the Bobcats. “They are the future Olympic team for China and to come out with a win is a huge confidence booster for us to bring into the season.”
It was a fun experience being able to go out there and compete against a World Baseball Classic team like China and to also be able to compare the different styles of play that the Chinese players are accustomed to, compared to the style of play we play at STU,” added senior outfielder and captain Oscar Rodriguez.
St. Thomas, under the direction of head coach Jorge Perez, is ranked 21st in the preseason NAIA poll and enters 2018 having made three consecutive trips to the NAIA National Championships Opening Round. In 2015, the Bobcats finished runner up at the NAIA World Series and are hungry for another tip to Lewiston, Idaho.