With one more season left in their careers at Baker University, six senior baseball players have one last chance to accomplish their goal.
“Our goal is to play in and win a conference championship,” senior first baseman Dan Carr said.
He said in past years the team has been on the verge of making the postseason playoffs, and last year the team was stopped just one game away. Carr, along with seniors Paul Foltz, Jake Landis, Tim McConn, Ben Mejia and Logan Peck, has one last swing at winning a Heart of America Athletic Conference championship.
Head coach Phil Hannon said he has high expectations from the team’s seniors to have a productive season.
“Leadership is the biggest thing,” Hannon said. “We need them to lead by example, help out their teammates and the younger guys coming through and help the team win.”
Foltz said he thinks the seniors will impact the team with their leadership. He said because of the large number of seniors who graduated at the end of last season, several of this year’s seniors will have to adjust to a new role.
“We have a lot of new people to step up as leaders this year, particularly seniors,” Foltz said.
Along with strong leadership, Hannon said he expects the seniors to perform on the field, be good teammates and provide excitement and enthusiasm for the team when things are not going so well.
Each of the seniors has played baseball on the Wildcat squad for three years, with the exception of McConn, who has two years under his belt.
Landis said experience is a major factor in the impact the seniors will have on the team.
“Experience is always something the seniors bring to the table,” he said. “We can help answer questions and help the others along. “
Several of the seniors said they would miss being around their teammates the most, as well as the opportunity to play baseball at the conclusion of this season.
“I will miss not being able to show up at the field and hang out with the guys and be part of the team,” Carr said. Hannon said the group would leave behind many good memories and would be missed by the team.
The six seniors said they hope to rely on their progressive developments, experience and leadership to produce a successful final season of their baseball careers.
2007 Schedule
Feb. 17 – Southern NazareneFeb. 18 – BaconeFeb. 21 – St. Mary’s*Feb. 24 – Southern Nazarene*Feb. 24 – Waldorf*Feb. 25 – St. Mary’sFeb. 25 – WaldorfMarch 1 – Kansas WesleyanMarch 3 – Missouri Baptist*March 4 – McKendree*March 10 – EvangelMarch 13 – Missouri Valley**- denotes home game