West Windsor, N.J. – If you think of baseball as a spring sport, think again.  The Mercer County Community College (MCCC) baseball team has been on the go throughout the fall. 

According to Head Coach Kevin Kerins, the team was hard at work from late August through October, practicing six to seven days per week, including speed and agility training with a strength coach.  Additionally players attended mandatory study halls. As part of their fall practice schedule, the Vikings faced Rider, Felician, Wilmington, Chestnut Hill, Cumberland County College and Penn State Abington.

Coach Kerins says that part of that work is to prepare for Scout Day, which was held at the MCCC baseball field on Oct. 25. This annual event has become a great opportunity for players to showcase their talents and meet directly with coaches and professional scouts.

Coming off their 2014 NJCAA World Series appearance in May and ranking as high as no. 2 in national polls, Kerins reports that the Vikings drew an even larger number of scouts than usual this year. By the end of the day, several players had been offered scholarships for next year and invited to visit schools across the country.

Major League Baseball teams represented included the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners.  Division 1 universities sending scouts included Monmouth, Rider, St. John’s, Seton Hall, the University of Rhode Island and Virginia Commonwealth.  Division 2 universities represented were Barry (Fla.), Carson Newman (Tenn.), East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Millersville, Pace, West Chester and Wilmington.  Division 3 schools included Keystone College, New Jersey City University, Rowan University, Rutgers Camden and The College of New Jersey.