The John Jay College of Criminal Justice baseball team is back north! After spending 10 days in Port Charlotte, Florida at the Snowbird Classic games, the Bloodhounds are set to go headlong after preparing with earnest for the rigors of the remainder of the baseball season.

John Jay lost seven games while in Florida playing against highly skilled teams from across the United States, but the practice time and the in game situations will prove to be priceless when the Bloodhounds make their run toward bringing the City University of New York Athletic Conference title home.

"Historically we have never had a winning record in Florida," said head coach Dan Palumbo. "People need to remember even in 2006 when we won 30 games and 2007 when we won the conference championship, we won only one game in each of those years. But we were a combined 57-29 overall and 34-2 in CUNYAC play those years so the lessons were well learned."

The trip to Florida is baseball in every sense of the word. The boys don't see the beach, they don't hit the nightclubs and they don't come and go as they please. While the team is down there, the daily schedule usually consists of a maximum of six things: practice, games, eating, sleeping, studying and working out, and it is always as a unit.

"The team wants baseball each year," said Palumbo. "The idea of the trip for what is to come. The wins and losses are not the most important thing. The idea of the trip is to work out the kinks and better prepare the program for what is to come once the season is in full swing. It also gets the team so close and it becomes a family. The relaxed togetherness makes it so much fun while we get better."

The group admits that while they are having fun, doing what they do, it does test their ability to endure what it takes to become a champion. It's the life of a Major League Baseball player (except for the study halls). The players get to live their dreams.

"The trip was definitely good, it helps us to become a better team," said first year player Ronald Barillas. "The trip was more work than I thought coming out of high school, but it's worth it because we want to be the best we can be and win as many games during the season."

"I would say the practices were definitely the hardest part of the trip," said fellow first year player Yahnny Arias. "We get the chance to practice at good facilities something we can't do too often during the season."

While in Florida, the Bloodhounds played prominent schools including a pair against Medaille College and Marywood College. John Jay also faced Wilmington College, Adrian College and Bluffton College.

"We definitely would not have the success we have if we did not play and practice in Florida first," said senior captain Dennis Lopez. "We get so much out of the trip because we get practice time in elements we probably will not see until late in the season if at all."

Lopez played a primary role in helping Palumbo put together the itinerary for the trip, which included the organizing the team budget, coordinating transportation, hotel stay, practice schedule and dining schedule.

Ultimately, the Florida trip is just one of the many things that makes John Jay baseball a proven dedicated program. The team conducts study halls, hosts an annual dinner in honor of a former John Jay baseball coach (Lou DeMartino), conduct, a holiday party for under privileged children and holds a season ending party with family members of the roster.

"We have a great number of supporters," said Palumbo. "Everything we do, we get great support. I want to personally thank our administrators, parents and all who support John Jay baseball. It would not have the success it has without them. Also the hard work of my assistant coaches and the leadership commitment of the captains and upperclassmen make this team run."

As every year, the trip is paid for by the baseball team's fund raising efforts.