Keep that fire burning.

That is the new slogan for the UTB/TSC baseball team after a successful 2010 season that ended with an appearance in the 2010 Baseball National Championship Opening Round Group 4 Tournament.

The Scorpions finished the year 31-24 but had numerous reasons to be proud of that mark and the season accomplishments.

At the Opening Round Tournament in Lubbock, the Scorpions lost to Mount Marty College (S.D.), 10-2, defeated Avila College (Mo.), 15-5, and were eliminated by Mount Marty, 10-5. Despite going 1-2 in Lubbock, the Scorpions had plenty to proud of.

Scorpion head coach Bryan Aughney talks to team after its final game of the season.

At the team gathering immediately following the elimination game, Aughney introduced the phrase for the team to keep them focused on the 2011 season and a return to the NAIA National Baseball Championships.

"Let that fire burn. Let that burn all summer and all fall."

The fire started to burn about midway through the season, when the Scorpions went on a nine-game winning streak during a Spring Break home stretch.

 "From where we started to where we ended up, I couldn't be prouder of these guys, with all the records that we set this year and all the positive things we accomplished," Aughney said. "I told them to be proud of what they've done for themselves, their teammates, their family and their university. We got a lot of guys coming back to keep that fire burning."

The trip to nationals was the first for the baseball team in the NAIA era.

"We've got to start somewhere. We did some good things this year and I think we turned some heads."

The Scorpion offense turned a lot of heads.

Leadoff hitter Jorge Camorlinga was a nemesis for opponents. The centerfielder finished the season with a .429 batting average and a 12-game hitting streak that will carry over to next year. During the streak, he was 31-for-57 for a hefty .544 batting average. He hit safely in 21 of his last 22 games, and hit all six of his home runs in the team's final 17 games.

Peter Maldonado, the second batter in the order, and Matt Warner, who hit in the No. 3 position, each hit .364. Warner had a team-record 18-game hitting streak that was snapped in Lubbock. Designated hitter Matt Ginn belted 12 home runs and first baseman Brian Bustos knocked eight out of the park.

Numerous offensive records were broken.

The pitching numbers were not as astonishing, but the staff came through in the postseason, especially at the RRAC Tournament. Chris Raley, Kevin Chapman, and Daniel "Trey" Garcia were solid in starting roles there. Even closer Jesus Mendoza, who set a team record with six saves, gave a strong performance on the mound at the RRAC Tournament.

The Scorpions could turn more heads in 2011. Only five seniors are leaving - pitchers Daniel "Trey" Garcia and Jesus Mendoza, first baseman Brian Bustos, shortstop Walter Blume, and reserve outfielder Robby Mang. They will return 19 of the 24 players who made the trip to Lubbock, plus two key players who sat out the 2010 season because of injury.

Julian Moya, the RRAC Pitcher of the Year in 2009 from Brownsville Porter, sat out the year with injuries. He pitched the first four innings of the season and earned the win in the season opener against Wayland Baptist University, but never returned. Joel Fernandez, a promising shortstop and pitcher from Las Vegas, Nevada who played at Colorado Northwest Community College, never played in 2010 because of injury.

UTB/TSC will have 14 seniors on the 2011 team. Only two position players who logged significant playing time in 2010 - catcher Gus Henggeler and right-fielder Peter Maldonado - were sophomores.

The pitching staff will be very experienced with seniors. Aside from Moya and Fernandez, who can also pitch, the Scorpions will have seniors Danny Gidora, Kevin Chapman, Chris Raley, Matt Leffler and Luis Sanchez.

In the infield, Ignacio Celedon, Mike Garcia and Nick Loftis will be seniors with experience, and Martin Cantu provides depth at third base.

Outfielders Jorge Camorlinga and Matt Warner, who provided a lot of offensive firepower, will return as seniors in 2011.

Behind the plate, Gilbert Puente, who was First Team All-RRAC as a freshman, and Jeff Allen will be back as seniors.

"It's been a fun year," senior Daniel Garcia said. "We've got a good group coming up and they're going to be really good next year."

Mendoza told his teammates about their success, and how close they came to the Avista-NAIA World Series. "We brought UTB a long away. I hope these guys realize that. The World Series is not that far away. It's really not that far away.

"We're part of the team that set the foundation," Bustos said. "We put UTB on the map. We're a school to be reckoned with. We've got a lot of guys returning, and only five of us are leaving."

The expectations will be higher in 2011 for the Scorpions. But as one of the players shouted during the team's final huddle break in Lubbock, "we've got tradition going now fellas."