Texas A&M players explain how they maintained focus through rain delay

Rain delays and Hoover go together like black leather and spikes at a death metal concert, and Texas A&M survived a long delay on Tuesday at the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament to win its single-elimination opener against Tennessee.

Inclement weather caused the game to be delayed by two hours and six minutes early in the ninth inning, with Texas A&M leading 3-0.

“Yeah, it’s obviously not what you want,” left fielder Jace LaViolette said after the game. “You want to keep playing, keep the momentum going. But rain is part of the game, and we kind of just — we were kind of just being men. We were kind of just having fun in the locker room, kicking back, relaxing.”

The rain delay in Hoover cost starting Aggies pitcher Troy Wansing a shot at a gem of a complete game.

Wansing worked through eight full innings, allowing just one hit by the Volunteers in the process. He was lifted following the rain delay, with Texas A&M turning to the bullpen.

“We talk about having an hourglass,” Wansing said. “That was one of those moments where you were allowed to get out of your hourglass. But as soon as we knew when the game would start back up, it was time to get back in it and refocus, and yeah.”

Of course, the rest of the team had to do that moreso than Wansing.

But the Aggies did so successfully, with left-hander Evan Aschenbeck coming in to handle the finale frame. He struck out one and did not allow a hit to quickly retire the Volunteers and end the game.

With Texas A&M now on to the double-elimination part of the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament, the Aggies should bear in mind the lessons from the rain delay. They may end up needing them again if history is any indication.

“If you’re always locked in for, what was that, four and a half, five hours, it’s going to be mentally draining,” LaViolette said. “So whenever it happens, you have to take a step back, relax, and think: We can’t play right now, so there’s no reason to be mentally focused. So take a mental break, and whenever the game comes back to play, we can be locked in again.”

Texas A&M will return to action on Wednesday against two-seed Arkansas in a game that will begin around 2 p.m. ET. The game is slated to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of a game between LSU and South Carolina, with that game set for a 10:30 a.m. ET first pitch.

Rain delays permitting, of course.