Whiting, Ind. – As the saying goes, they’re here for a good time, not a long time. When it comes to the MCL Minutemen, they plan to take full advantage of their first and only Midwest Collegiate League season this summer.

The team boasts a talented roster primed to compete for the league title, but according to manager Jack Murphy, their hard work and commitment to getting better every day impresses him the most.

“I’m really excited to coach these guys,” Murphy said. “They’re trying to improve and get as many reps as they can every time they take the field. A lot of them are staying late, getting extra work in on their defense and taking more swings. Nobody is mailing anything in; everyone is trying to do as much as they can every day.”

The Minutemen feature plenty of youth, as eight players are yet to see action at the collegiate level. However, Murphy is excited about the challenge of getting them up to speed.

“I’m excited for the younger players to get a taste of what to expect at the next level,” Murphy said. “They have a lot of talent, and I like what I’ve seen from them already. Throughout our first few practices, they all jumped right in without a hitch and have looked really good. My goal is to work with them and help develop their skillset as they face off against quality competition.”

Aiding their transition while adding extra firepower to the team are MCL returners Mike Bolton Jr. (Calumet City, Ill./Purdue) and Malik Peters (Calumet City, Ill./NIU). Both one year removed from all-star campaigns and an MCL Championship Series appearance with the Northwest Indiana Oilmen, their familiarity with the league and leadership will help their new teammates adjust to facing talented players day in and day out.

“[Mike] Bolton and [Malik] Peters have already been talking about what they saw last year and what to expect,” Murphy said. “They’ve really gotten into the mindset of how to attack pitchers in this league and how to find patterns in their pitch sequences, I think it’s going to help the younger guys a ton when they step into the box.

“As I’ve started to watch them play, what really jumps out to me is their speed,” he continued.  “They cover a lot of ground in the outfield and they’ve each stolen three bases in our intrasquad scrimmages. I’m excited to watch them put pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses all summer long.”

With the unique scheduling this season requiring 47 games in 47 days, Murphy plans to utilize his entire roster and get the most out of everyone.

“I want to see guys give 100{cf47f2315115c821f85361449af7231dc538b29e03dada1335592182f823e3e1} every time they take the field, and I have to keep guys fresh in order to do that,” Murphy said. “With the hitters, nobody is going to be on the bench two games in a row and nobody is going to start more than three consecutive games. That three on, one off plan should work throughout the summer. Pitching wise, I plan on using a six-man starting rotation and throwing the relievers no more than two innings at a time. I never want to be at a point where anyone tells me that their arm is dead or that they physically can’t play.”

When the Minutemen take the field, expect them to play aggressively and without fear.

“I’m expecting full commitment on every play,” Murphy said. “For hitters, that means never checking swings and maintaining the same approach from a 3-0 count to an 0-2 count.  Pitchers should command the zone and throw strikes in any count. We’re always going to sprint out of the box and look for the extra base.”

The Minutemen open their season at Oil City Stadium on the Fourth of July, taking on the Northwest Indiana Oilmen at 6:10 p.m.