August 25, 2009
JACOB FLORES: SIZZLING HOT SEASON
SEASIDE, Calif. - Third baseman Jacob Flores will enter his final year playing for the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters after having a very successful summer season with the Waimea Waves.
The Waves won the regular season with a 25-10 overall record. An All-Star selection in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League, Flores led the conference with 31 runs batted in and was second with 12 doubles.
Recently, Flores sat down to discuss his summer baseball experience and his expectations this spring.
What has this past summer mean to you?
This summer was a great experience for baseball for me. My team set the record for wins in a season going 25-10 and I feel I much improved as a player as well. Being a part of such a successful team this summer, I learned more about what it takes to win games and hopefully I can bring that to this upcoming season.
Being a local player, what does it mean to you to wear an Otter jersey?
When I was growing up in Salinas there was no NCAA baseball in the area until my senior year of high school. I have been a part of this program since the second year and I feel very proud to be a part of the beginning of a tradition of collegiate baseball here in Monterey.
Also when I was younger, I came through Coach Rich’s youth baseball "Aldrete Baseball Academy". I have known Coach Rich since I was about twelve. I am proud to be a product of Coach Rich's academy and continue to represent him at the collegiate level. Coach Rich has virtually taught me everything I know and I would not be where I am today without him.
Which of your teammates has influenced you the most, either on or off the field?
I have been good friends with Peter Estes since we were kids. He's like a brother to me now. It has been nice to go through this experience of college baseball with Pete. We keep each other motivated and make sure we don’t get off track.
What athletes do you look to as role models?
I have plenty of favorite athletes but athletes as role models; I'd have to say guys like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Lance Armstrong. I know it is a little cliché but anyone who is a competitive athlete has to strive to be like them because they are the greatest at what they do and you have to respect that. Those guys have that "it" factor which allows them to win more than anyone in their sport ever has. It should be everyone’s goal to win every time they compete.
Entering your final year in college baseball, what goals have you set for yourself and the team?
Being my final year of college baseball, as a team I want to be the first CSUMB baseball team to make it to the playoffs. For myself, I basically want to do as much as a can to help reach the team goal through my performance, experience and leadership.
What are your plans after you graduate?
Obviously I plan on playing baseball for as long as the game allows me to. I am majoring in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science. I hope to pursue a career that is associated with sports whether it is coaching, sports medicine, or whatever else it may be.
