Q&A With Matt Hague
February 07, 2006 | Baseball
Feb. 7, 2006
The Husky baseball team opens the 2006 season this weekend when the Diamond Dawgs travel to Las Cruces, N.M., to take on New Mexico State in a three-game series.
The Huskies feature a lot of new faces this year and, with 24 of 36 players on the roster either freshmen or sophomores, they'll have to rely on some of those youngsters.
Monday, gohuskies.com took a few moments to speak with sophomore outfielder and pitcher Matt Hague, from Kentwood High.
Last year, Hague began the year as a relief pitcher, but after exploding at the plate and earning an everyday spot in the batting order around the middle of the year, he mostly concentrated on hitting in the second half of the year. In 2006, it looks like he'll be trying to do a little more of both.
Here's what Hague had to say:
gohuskies.com: The season begins this week. Are you looking forward to getting going?
Matt Hague: I'm really excited. We've been working hard in the fall and now in the spring, trying to get ready for a good start. Now it's time to put it out there on the field.
gohuskies.com: As a sophomore, how do you feel right now as compared to last year at this time when you were a freshman?
MH: I have a lot more of a role this year. Last year at this time, I really didn't know what I was going to do as far as pitching and hitting and all of that. This year, I feel a lot better about that. I've got a lot more experience this year.
gohuskies.com: Last year, you showed for sure that you can hit at this level, so obviously, you'll be in the lineup. Do you think you'll get a chance on the mound this weekend?
MH: Who knows? Whatever Coach Knutson says, goes. But, I'm ready. I've been throwing a lot.
gohuskies.com: As a hitter, what did you learn last year that you can take into this season?
MH: A better strike zone. I think I can anticipate better where the pitcher is going to throw a pitch, and I'm trying to hit it where it's pitched. I kind of used to be a little one-dimensional -- an opposite-way guy. Now, I think I'm better at going with the pitch and figuring out what a pitcher's trying to do.
gohuskies.com: People say that on the new college baseball video game, the guy that represents you has pretty good power.
MH: I guess ... I'm one of the better power guys. Who knows? They also have Burgher as the slowest guy on the team, and he's pretty fast.
gohuskies.com: Thanks for your time, Matt. Fans, don't forget: you can catch live audio of all three games this weekend on the Dawg Channel, only at gohuskies.com.
