Yuba trio brings the heat

The Yuba College baseball team is in a great position to make it this season, tied with Cosumnes River for third place in the Bay Valley Conference with a 8-7 record in the BVC, 16-13 overall. The success this season is due in large part to the pitching of sophomores Kevin Jenson and Josh Glynn, and red-shirt freshman, Chris Perry.Both head Coach Tim Gloyd and Pitching Coach Erick Burnes agree that the pitching this season is outstanding. Gloyd said that the 49ers are second in the league in pitching this season, behind Sacramento City.When asked his opinion of the pitchers Burnes said, “They’re great to work with and make my job easier. They’re pretty smart baseball players.”As of April 10, Glynn, a right-hander out of Lindhurst High who made first team all conference last season, has a 2.81 ERA with a 4-3 record in 57 innings pitched.”We’re coming on really strong right now, doing really good,” said Glynn in a recent interview. “I feel like we can maybe sweep the whole other side. Our overall pitching has been really good this year.””He came here throwing the ball at 82-to-83 mph, maybe 84. In the all-star game in October he touched 91,” said Gloyd when asked about Glynn’s play this season. “He works his butt off and has great command of his pitches.”Jenson, a sophomore from Yuba City, who spent last season at Hofstra University before coming back to Yuba, had three shut outs in his first five starts and led the 49ers to their first BVC win of the season with a complete-game four hitter with only two walks against Solano.”My first five or six starts are going really well,” said Jenson. “We’ve got a lot of potential. We could be the top one, two spots in our league.” Jenson has thrown for 58 innings with a 3.55 ERA and a 4-4 record.When asked his opinion of Jenson’s play Gloyd said, “He competes. He’s thrown the ball well all but maybe one game during the year.”Perry, who also came out of Lindhurst High, currently has a 1.57 ERA in 34 innings. Perry said he feels the coaching staff has helped his game this season. “They definitely helped me. My confidence is a lot better, and I’m throwing strikes,” said Perry.When asked his about expectations for this season, Perry said, “To play hard and win.” He also said that the team expectations are pretty high. “We’ve had stretches where we were not doing as well as we should, but every team goes through it. I think we understand that.”Coach Burnes feels that Perry might have some of the best stuff on the team as far as curve balls and sliders and that he’s having an outstanding season. “I’m excited about what he’s going to do next year,” said Burnes.The other pitchers seem to agree that the coaching staff has helped them with their game and that they enjoy playing ball for the 49ers.”Coach Gloyd and the coaching staff made me feel like I was going to be at home,” said Glynn when asked why he chose to play at Yuba. “I thought we had a chance to win here.”Jenson said that one of the reasons he left Hofstra was because he wanted to go to a college with a better baseball program. He also said playing here might allow him to get more exposure from the pro teams.Jenson plans on being in the June Major League Amateur Draft where pro teams draft high school and college players, but said he must plan for the future, and that means a college education. “When the day of the draft comes, I’m open for it,” said Jenson.As for Glynn’s future, he will be attending the University of Arkansas on a baseball scholarship next year and plans on making it to the Pros.”Going to a big time four year school is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Glynn. “I’m really excited about getting back there and playing baseball.”As for players making it to the Pros, Gloyd has high expectations for his pitchers. “Jenson and Glynn could both be in the big leagues in five years if they keep continuing what they’re doing.” He said that the other pitchers are having a good season as well. Despite all the great players on the 49ers team, Gloyd said the biggest part of their game that needs work is their defensive play. “We’ve got a good group of kids that work hard. If we can play catch, we’ve got a 90 percent chance of winning.”