Following Friday's Celebrity Home Run Derby, guests were treated to an intra-squad baseball team scrimmage.
Before the game, head coach John Pawlowski said he was excited about seeing the work over in the summer on display.
"Our biggest focus was trying to improve our pitching staff," Pawlowski said. "We really needed work in that department. Luckily we have got some new faces, a lot of talent and some boys that are working really hard."
Pawlowski said the team is returning a lot of upperclassmen leaders this year, and he is excited to see them step back in and fill the leadership roles they always have.
"A lot can be determined in the fall," Pawlowski said. "Some of the older guys need to be pushed in the fall. The younger guys will push them. I don't think the pitching rotation will be set in the fall. We are going to give a lot of guys a lot of opportunities to go out there and perform."
Sophomore pitcher Cory Luckie said he has been working during the offseason on his pitching.
"I have made some changes and been pitching a lot," Luckie said. "I am really hoping to bring some new life to the rotation."
Luckie said the team's goal is to get back into the SEC tournament at the end of the season.
Junior infielder Justin Hargett agreed that the team is looking to the tournament at the end of the season, but small things had to be done first.
Hargett said last year the team was hit or miss a lot of its games. He said personal goals are not as important as making sure the cohesiveness of the team is built upon.
The scrimmage gave the team some things to work on for the last few months of practice before they start the season.
Junior outfielder Brian Fletcher hit two solo home runs and sophomore Creede Simpson hit three doubles to fuel the offenses.
Sophomore pitcher Jon Luke Jacobs threw four shutout innings to lead the visiting Tigers over the home Tigers, 8-6.
Pawlowski said he is excited about the start of the next season.
"The spring is going to be a great challenge for us," Pawlowski said. "We added some new teams on the schedule. We open up with Southeast Missouri State, a team that is very good year-in and year-out."
The Tigers are also replacing two coaches from the previous year.
"We lost two great guys in Matt Heath and Jeff Duncan, but both of them had great opportunities. I think our team is better for having both of those guys around the program but we have to move forward."
Pawlowski said he is pleased about the new coaching hire, Ty Megahee, who replaced Duncan.
"We are very fortunate to have Ty Megahee join the Auburn baseball program," Pawlowski said. "His experience as an assistant coach, recruiting coordinator and a trip to the NCAA Regionals last year will certainly help us as we continue to move the program forward."
In addition to Megahee, the Tigers are also welcoming their new Director of Player Development, Link Jarrett. Jarrett, who spent the past four seasons as the hitting instructor and recruiting coordinator at East Carolina.
Fans were pleased with the improvements they saw from the team compared to last year.
Sophomore Derek Meullen said things are looking good for the team.
"I came to most of the games last year where sometimes it seemed the team was firing on all cylinders, but other times it felt like they just were not all there," Meullen said. "After seeing them tonight, I feel like I am seeing their true potential."
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