OLIVER KIMOKEO | sports editor

The Cougar baseball team is prepared for an aftershock performance on April 1. APU will play the Class A level Rancho Cucamonga Quakes for a seven-inning exhibition game in a friendly rematch of the thrilling 2007 contest.

The game will be held at the Epicenter, the home ballpark of the Quakes. The Quakes develop prospects for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Minor league teams often schedule universities to play as a method of getting their players ready for the long season and to give college players the opportunity to play at a bigger ballpark against professional players.

“We hope for two things—that we don’t get hurt and they don’t get hurt,” head baseball coach Paul Svagdis said, regarding the Cougars’ approach to the game. “We want to give them a game where they feel like it’s something of value to them. So we’re going to play hard and play to win. We’re also going to have in mind that it’s an exhibition game.”

Svagdis said the team is ready for a return performance at a professional ballpark, after defeating the Quakes in a 5-4 last-inning comeback. Down to their last out, the Cougars scored five runs off five walks and an error.

“Our expectation is having great development opportunities for the team,” Svagdis said. “Our playersget to play on a big diamond.”

With the Quakes game now on the schedule, the Cougars are slated to play seven games in eight days. The Cougars will be playing the other six games, including two Saturday doubleheaders, against three GSAC teams.

Since the Cougars are playing a plethora of games within a short time, Svagdis anticipates that he will save his star pitchers for the GSAC contests. For the Rancho Cucamonga game, Svagdis will be giving most of the team a chance to play in the exhibition, including those who will not be regular contributors in 2008.

Svagdis is pleased to play the Quakes for a second year.

“We started developing a relationship with the front office,” Svagdis said. “They liked to play a game when all their guys get back into town and we’ve been fortunate enough to be that team that they play.”

The Cougars open their season at 7:30 p.m. tonight on the Cougar Baseball Field against the Patten Lions. The NAIA independent school based in Alameda, Calif. lost to the Cougars 6-5 in the 2007 Region II playoffs.

“The guys are ready—they’re excited to play,” Svagdis said. “They worked really hard in the offseason and we’re looking forward to playing games to gauge where we are at.”

Tickets for the Quakes exhibition, will be available soon through the Quakes box office and the APU Athletic Department.