Entering the 2025 season, WSU baseball has a simple goal.
“Be a team,” said assistant coach Tommy Richards.
The squad has been overhauled from last year, with 24 newcomers. 16 transfers and eight freshmen have brought new energy into the WSU baseball program. With so many new faces, the coaching staff is emphasizing their hope the team will play as a unit in 2025.
Richards coaches outfielders and hitting. He said he would like to see the team play together and not with ego. In fact, that philosophy shaped the way WSU’s coaching staff attacked the recruitment process last offseason. Recruitment director Joseph Perez said he looked for players whose values aligned with the program.
“We want guys that want to be a part of a team, right. That want to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” said Perez. “Guys that aren’t necessarily about flash and flare.”
One of the players whose values aligned was junior Ricco Longo, who transferred from Spokane Falls Community College. Longo, an infielder, is a utility man, which means he plays every position in the infield. He said he is proud of his role because it allows him to help the team in whatever way they need that day.
“I love it, it keeps me on my toes,” said Longo.
Teamwork and unity seem to be at the core of WSU’s baseball program, but it does not take away from the work the team puts in on the field.
“There’s a lot of time spent together playing baseball,” said junior first baseman Ryan Skjonsby.
Practice conditions have been harsh in the two weeks leading up to WSU’s season opener on Feb. 14 at Arkansas. With heavy snowfall in Pullman, the team was forced to move indoors to the brand-new Taylor Sports Complex.
“We’re very fortunate this year having the Taylor Sports Complex,” Perez said. “We can get in there, play catch and really train multiple things while we’re in there.”
Despite the snow, it has been a busy winter. WSU had just under six weeks between the end of Christmas break and their first game. Drills include batting practice, bullpens and pitch tracking, which is a new technology that allows players to track the angle of pitches to get a better understanding of how to make contact.
With such a busy schedule, the team has still found time for bonding opportunities. Pitcher Troy Shepard, who transferred from Spokane Falls Community College, said the team has meshed together well.
“We had a Super Bowl watch party,” Shepard said. “Earlier in the year for practice, we had to know everything about a certain teammate, or else we had to run.”
As winter turns to spring, WSU baseball will soon come back to Pullman for their home opener on March 7 against Seattle University. When they do, fans will see a team that is fresh, polished and united. Playing as a team might not be a flashy slogan, but it lays the foundation of a winning culture.
