In the Dugout – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 18, 2003
After months that have included several inches of snow and freezing weather in the state of Ohio, imagine what must have going through the mind of someone who is used to sandy beaches, sea shells and sunny weather.
Those beautiful sights and sounds are nothing but memories now to sophomore Paul Farinacci, a native of Westlake Village, Calif.
“I miss the beach and the warm weather,” Farinacci said. “Earlier this month, there was still a lot snow on the ground. Right now it’s about 80 degrees back home.”
The cold weather and dry land has not been the only thing the 6-foot-3-inch first baseman has had to adapt to after moving to Ohio. Farinacci was four-year letterwinner and a First Team All-Southern California selection at Agoura High School, but the adjustment from high school to college was a challenge for him during his freshman season.
“It was hard the first year balancing athletics with academics and being away from home,” Farinacci said.
Farinacci is one of the Buckeyes most versatile players. As a freshman, Farinacci started 13 of the 21 games he appeared in, starting five games at first base, seven games as the designated hitter and one game at third base. He batted .204 with 10 hits in 49 at bats and three of his 10 hits were home runs and another three were doubles.
Having one year of experience under his belt, the sophomore OSU Scholar-Athlete said his experience as a freshman has helped him feel more at ease this season.
“This year it has been a little easier to adjust because of the experience of last year,” Farinacci said. “I think we were on the road eight out 11 weeks in the spring last year so this year I sort of know what to expect.”
Not only does Farinacci know what to expect while traveling but he also understands what it takes to become a great player and the importance of working out on your own.
“The workouts with strength coach Anthony Glass are pretty tough,” Farinacci said. “The conditioning we had in the offseason and the off-season lifting has helped me a lot in getting ready for the season.” If Farinacci has not become accustomed to the cold winter months of the Buckeye state yet, he had better learn quickly because it is not often he is able to return home.
