UH junior third baseman Jimmy Cesario insists his swing is coming around, although his batting average has been slow to follow.
After 13 games, Cesario has a measly .216 average with one home run and four RBIs. He has also struck out a team-high tying 10 times.
But Cesario, who has started every game, recently showed signs of life by recording a few hits in the Cougars’ three-game series against the University of California-Santa Barbara last weekend. He batted sixth in the lineup for two games and seventh for one game, finishing 4-for-12 with a double and three RBIs.
A return to form could be near for Cesario, who was the Cougars’ top hitter with a .352 batting average last season.
"Over the last few at-bats, I’ve felt a little bit better, and it’s just a matter of time before it happens," Cesario said. "I’m confident that I’ll start contributing the way I’m capable of doing. It just takes a little work and repetitions, but it’ll come back."
Cesario will get another shot to work on his swing when UH (8-5) faces Stephen F. Austin (8-5) at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Cougar Field.
Cesario will probably bat sixth, but head coach Rayner Noble thinks better days are ahead for him.
"He looks like he’s coming around a little," Noble said. "He’s just had some tough luck – hitting the ball right at people."
Fortunately for the Cougars, they haven’t had to depend solely on Cesario’s bat as others have stepped up at the plate.
Fifth-year senior outfielder Jake Stewart, who missed nearly all of last season with a torn rotator cuff, has a team-leading .438 average with two home runs, six doubles and 13 RBIs. Senior first baseman Bryan Pounds, who didn’t hit higher than .279 in his previous three seasons, is second on the team with a .425 average, and leads the team in home runs (four) and RBIs (15).
Pounds attributes his hot start to advice he received from Noble during fall practice.
"Early in the fall, I looked really robotic at the plate, and he just told me to go like I’m playing in the backyard and just try to knock it out of the park," Pounds said. "That was just in (batting practice) early in the fall, and I just stuck with that. I went with a stance that I was comfortable with, just keeping my hands loose, staying loose in the box and seeing the ball.
"I think that’s mainly the big change. I was real stiff the past three years and out in front of everything instead of just sitting back and letting the ball get to me."
Sophomore right-hander John Touchton (1-1, 5.87 ERA) will likely start against SFA. In his previous start against Louisiana-Lafayette on March 4, he received a no-decision after going four innings and allowing two runs on three hits.
The Lumberjacks enter tonight’s matchup after sweeping Sacred Heart in a four-game series last weekend. In Sunday’s 4-2 win, three SFA pitchers combined to strike out 12 Sacred Heart batters.
The Cougars don’t plan to take SFA lightly.
"Every game is big, especially those midweek games," Cesario said.
