Issue Date: 1/17/06
New coach expects to continue tradition
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The Palomar College baseball program undergoes a major facelift for the upcoming 2006 season.
In addition to the community college standard of high player turnover, the Comets will have a new manager and coaching staff for the first time in a quarter-century.
Buck Taylor was named baseball manager at the end of last season, replacing 24-year veteran Bob Vetter.
He assumes the head-coaching post after five years as an assistant. Prior to that, he was the assistant head-coach at his alma mater San Francisco State from 1994-2000.
Taylor will attempt to fill the shoes of Vetter, who finished his Comet career 542-393-6 overall while leading last year's squad (34-11) into the state championship game. Vetter was also named Pacific Coast Conference Coach of the Year.
"I'm very excited to be in this position," said Taylor of being the head coach. "If I learned one thing (from Vetter) it's patience. Be patient with the kids, make no rash decisions. If you're upset, sleep on it."
On the field, the Comets will feature an almost entirely different team as last season, which saw 14 players from the state runner-up team advance to the four-year level to play baseball.
Only one regular position player, Cameron Penney (all-conference first baseman last season as a freshman), returns. Nick Vincent is the only returning starting pitcher from last season. Vincent, a medical redshirt last season, showed promise early before being shelved with an arm injury. Despite all the new faces, Taylor said he feels very good about his club and its potential for success.
"I love the kids we have - we're athletic with good team speed," Taylor said. "I like our depth in that we have at least two good players at every position, all of which are up for grabs. Plus, this is a good group of kids who route for one another no matter what."
Palomar does have reinforcements arriving-four transfers with Division I experience will be donning the scarlet and silver.
In addition to the community college standard of high player turnover, the Comets will have a new manager and coaching staff for the first time in a quarter-century.
Buck Taylor was named baseball manager at the end of last season, replacing 24-year veteran Bob Vetter.
He assumes the head-coaching post after five years as an assistant. Prior to that, he was the assistant head-coach at his alma mater San Francisco State from 1994-2000.
Taylor will attempt to fill the shoes of Vetter, who finished his Comet career 542-393-6 overall while leading last year's squad (34-11) into the state championship game. Vetter was also named Pacific Coast Conference Coach of the Year.
"I'm very excited to be in this position," said Taylor of being the head coach. "If I learned one thing (from Vetter) it's patience. Be patient with the kids, make no rash decisions. If you're upset, sleep on it."
On the field, the Comets will feature an almost entirely different team as last season, which saw 14 players from the state runner-up team advance to the four-year level to play baseball.
Only one regular position player, Cameron Penney (all-conference first baseman last season as a freshman), returns. Nick Vincent is the only returning starting pitcher from last season. Vincent, a medical redshirt last season, showed promise early before being shelved with an arm injury. Despite all the new faces, Taylor said he feels very good about his club and its potential for success.
"I love the kids we have - we're athletic with good team speed," Taylor said. "I like our depth in that we have at least two good players at every position, all of which are up for grabs. Plus, this is a good group of kids who route for one another no matter what."
Palomar does have reinforcements arriving-four transfers with Division I experience will be donning the scarlet and silver.