The Rams baseball team is gearing up for a successful season at Southeastern Community College. Head coach Robert Burns has high expectations for his team that he says has “a lot of heart, dedicated workers and big personalities.” The Rams kick off the season at Wake Technical Community College on Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. followed by a home game on Feb. 4.  

“I am looking forward to coaching a group of guys who have bought into our culture, our team and our values on and off the field,” Burns said. “We have won a lot this year, not just on the field, but in the classroom with a team GPA of 3.1 and attending many community events as a team.”  

Burns explained that the team had “a lot of mental and physical development on the field and in the weightroom.” He is looking forward to winning games this spring because the team has “great representations of what it means to be a Ram.” 

“We have worked hard on the field about six days a week to get ready for this season,” Burns said. “We had a lot of teaching points, overcame some adversity and experienced some fun things this fall such as the tournaments we participated in.” 

Burns explained that hours on the field together, holding high expectations in the classroom, holding young men to a standard on the field, helping them learn how to overcome and the workouts in the weight room play a big part in a player’s success. Burns describes his team as disciplined and dedicated to the process of development. 

“My favorite part about coaching is the ability to make a difference in young man’s life,” Burns said. “I think everyone who wears a Rams jersey feels like they are a part of something bigger than themselves, and I think it gives a lot of us a sense of belonging and a brotherhood.” 

The Rams baseball team started practice on the first day of class in August. Burns said that “with a lot of these kids hungry to get back, most of them even played a lot this summer.”  

“Coach Burns has really prepared his team by playing a full fall ball schedule with much improvement each game and eagerness to reach the spring,” said Karlyn Stephens, SCC athletic director and head softball coach. “This team is full of talent at each position and has hard-working young men, and I can’t wait to see Coach Burns in his third season as a head coach.” 

When the baseball team is off the field, they find ways to give back to the community by walking in parades and community service projects held on campus – the most recent one being the Wilcox Family Foundation annual turkey drive in November.  

“I think all community events are nice,” Burns said. “It’s great to be able to give and to help the community with something as essential and as meaningful as a holiday dinner.”