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With all offseason workouts, early soul-shattering running, Klotsche Center bad hops and simulated games in the cage all but a memory, this is the day we have all been waiting for. Walking out of my house with my two duffel bags and my backpack, the sun seemed warmer than ever. The idea of going south and leaving this bitter cold weather was enough motivation for me. Arriving at the Klotsche Center and seeing the infamous Lamers bus awaiting 36 people for a 10-hour circus of a bus ride was a far too-familiar sight. Gearing yourself up for one of these trips is a task of its own. Making sure you have enough snacks, candy and fluids is almost as important as packing your cleats. As we were leaving to go to the park and ride, at 11:59, which might I add has to be a record for leaving on time, the usual conversations of where people were sitting and what movie will be first were had. Usually those who decide to park at the park and ride get a little mad at us if we start a movie early, so with them in mind we chose to wait to put in our first movie. After picking up the coaches and some other players at the park and ride we started our 10 hours of anticipation.
The eating situation is a little bit different this year, as we are looking toward a more “team” atmosphere. Making less stops with more choices and stopping once for one team meal. With that in mind we planned to drive about six hours before our team meal. As we could hear our own hungry stomachs growling Steve “Flip” Sanfilippo bailed us out and provided individual bags of sandwiches, chips, and apples to satisfy us. Following a brief munch period the upperclassmen picked their goat and hand-chose freshman pitcher Jordan Guth for movie duty, one duty that will probably stick with him the rest of this season. We put in “The Hangover”, all time CLASSIC, and let the laughs roll. For an hour thereafter there was a mysterious aura about our bus. People were receiving calls that weren’t actually happening. For example, Junior Shortstop Cole Kraft was being peppered by calls from Myself, Junior Doug Dekoning, and Junior Sam Sivilotti with all of our phones either being off or out of our reach. Investigative studies haven’t caught the perpetrator however we are proactively awaiting his capture. After the phantom phone calls, three movies, the two word game (these stories are rated PG-13, parental advisory is recommended), and several games of either cribbage, or this PSP phenomena called “skittles” the team dinner seemed to come out of nowhere. Stopping in Marion, IL at the local Ryans “amazing, fattening” Buffet you could only imagine what 36 or so men can do.
After some weird looks from the locals and putting a dent into the food we were back on the road, to our ultimate destination. We were told 196 miles to go after the dinner, but when you drive through the flatland of southern Illinois, and Missouri in the pitch black the trip seems to be another six hours. However, once we got the 14-mile countdown to Jonesboro we let loose. The state of Arkansas greeted us with a tender smell of skunk and over 25 car dealerships specializing in brand new 1983 Ford Rangers within a 14-mile stretch, closely resembling Pulaski, WI. After clowning on the decisive naming of their gas stations and the scare of the Fairview INN (amenities including Wi-Fi and a meeting room for 49.99) we drove another minute to our hotel.
Stepping off the bus never felt so good, for that one second, until the cold Arkansas air gave us Wisconsin folk a brunt back hand. You would think 30 degrees would feel a little warmer however when you’re expecting mid 40's the cool air is not welcomed. The Comfort Suites was very inviting following our 10-hour chicken coup of a bus. Getting situated in our rooms and preparing our jerseys for the next following days a couple of us decided to make the long walk to the nearest gas station.
Waking up to an alarm at 8 a.m. can sometimes be a challenge. However, with the opening day of the 2010 season upon us the excitement was building. Getting continental breakfast, Comfort Suites got it right, and relaxing for a couple hours before a short “walk-through” practice at 11:30 is all you can ask for on the road. We got our cleats and workout clothes and headed to the field. Taking in the 45 degree sunny weather and smell of fresh grass and dirt as an inspirational tool we had no lack of energy for this 35 minutes. After the fly balls and ground balls we trekked back and dove into Dominos Pizza, a little iffy before a game but our empty stomachs didnt care. Once 3:30 rolled around we boarded the bus for the real beginning to our season. All geared up and ready to go we got off the bus to the Arkansas State Red Wolves taking their batting practice and the music at max volume. Once batting practice and infield was finished for both teams we lined up for the national anthem and got the goosebumps rising.
The lineup for our team went as follows, SS Cole Kraft CF Doug Dekoning 1st Ben Long, 2nd Paul Heonecke, LF Tim Patzman, 3rd Dan Buchholz, DH Chad Pierce, RF John Capasso, C Shaun Wegner. Our starting pitcher sophomore Kyle Schmidt had no trouble getting warmed up in the 39-degree weather. Wearing no sleeves being his usual goofy self, but focused nonetheless. Our first inning was a progressive start for our team, a couple hard hit balls by Kraft and Dekoning were right at fielders and they were out. With two outs senior Ben Long struck out however the ball got passed the catcher and he reached first with great hustle. Following another passed ball Ben Long was hit in to score by a double supplied by sophomore Paul Hoenecke. Pitcher Kyle Schmidt then took the mound and had a very efficient start to the game getting 0’s in the first three innings.
Once we got into the fourth inning we still had the energy and momentum we began the game with. The fourth inning we managed to tack two more runs on the board to extend the lead to 3-0. Arkansas State had an answer in the bottom half of the inning with one run. The 5th inning brought about a sac hit for senior Ben Long to score Doug Dekoning following a double. (There were four extra-base hits, including a triple by Dan Buchholz) With the score at 4-1 entering the bottom half of the 5th, it looked at though we had a grip on the momentum and game.
Momentum is the most important thing, arguably, in a baseball game. When you have it you don't wanna lose it, when you don't have it you battle the other team for it. This was one of those innings that the Red Wolves fought hard to get it. They had a couple of breaks in that inning with an error and a balk. To their credit, they did hit the ball in places we weren’t, including a couple doubles in route to a three-run inning. The score was tied at 4-4 going into the 6th. With one out in the top of the 6th Senior Dan “The bat taping aficionado” Buchholz took an inside fastball to the center field wall, watching him rounding second and coach Scott Doffek putting the hold up sign on there was no choice for him but to keep going. He mustered up enough speed to beat the throw to third by three feet.
Following another strikeout freshman John “Jasper” Capasso (who was 2-4 with 2 RBI’s) capitalized on a fastball and took it to right field, scoring Buchholz and putting us ahead 5-4 in the 6th. Following a two-out walk in the 7th inning, head coach Scott Doffek made the stroll out to the mound and called upon senior Lucas Annen, thus ending Kyle Schmidt's phenomenal start (6.2 innings/6 hits/4 runs and earned runs along with 5 strikeouts). After getting himself out of a two-out jam, Annen kept the score at 5-4.
Following two scoreless innings for us the game hung in the balance. Even though we were up one, we still had the feeling of being on our heels. Playing passively is a bad combination in this sport, or any sport for that matter. Their leadoff batter had a great at bat versus Annen. He made some quality pitches during this at-bat, getting the batter down to two strikes. The next pitch seemed to be the game changer. After the delivery and a seemingly good spot their 2nd basemen G. Garcia hit a deep fly ball to left field, finding itself a landing spot only four feet past the wall. Game tied 5-5.The air was sucked from our dugout as we looked at our lead down to nothing in the 8th inning. Eventhough we were stunned we were all too confident to think it was over. Following another pitching change for us, sophomore Cameron Amsrud came in a picked up where he left off. Getting us out of crucial jams and important spots. Going into the 9th inning the score remained tied at 5. The Red Wolves had a freshman pitcher who came in the 6th inning in relief. To his credit he had a very efficient stint versus the Panther hitting. Facing 12 batters he struck out eight. He had a very good curveball which made it hard for our hitters to get comfortable in the box. Getting the Red Wolves into the bottom of the ninth inning with the score still tied was crucial for him.
The ninth inning started with an “only in baseball” kind of hit. Their best player arguably, Todd Baumgartner, swung at a two-strike fastball and had a base hit swinging bunt. Nothing we could have done about it. After that another stud for them (preseason all Sun Belt 1st basemen) Murray Watts came up to the plate and executed a perfect play where Baumgartner steals, causing Cole Kraft to be on the move toward second. The ball was placed, by Watts, right out of reach for Kraft, landing both Red Wolves on base. Following a couple iffy calls by the opposing coach we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. The same man who hit a homerun to tie it up had a chance to win the game. With the count at 2-2, Amsrud threw the pitch and Garcia hit it through the right side, winning the game, in walk-off fashion. A clear disappointment and draining game we were kicking ourselves. It was a hard fought game with both teams never giving up. The best thing about this game, is it gave us a gauge somewhat of how we can play. Being inside for the past five months we have no clue how leaving the friendly confines of the “Kdome” will treat us. We have three more games against this team, who we believe is beatable, as for every team. It a matter of perseverance and trust in one another. On to the next one.
Waking up Saturday morning for breakfast everyone was feeling the effects of the first game of the year. A quote from Dan Buchholz sums it up the best. In his words he stated that it felt as though “I was hit by a train, then ran over several times by four Milwaukee county buses”. Whether you were playing or not the game took a toll, being bitterly cold and doing our pregame procedures for the first time.
The first game of the double header was scheduled for 1 p.m. Making his first collegiate start, freshman pitcher Eric Semmelhack was as loose as someone can be before a nerve-wracking start. To his credit, he pitched a gem of a ballgame, going seven innings and only allowing two runs. Needless to say his performance was that of a seasoned veteran.
Before all was said and done we found ourselves on the short end of another walk-off win. With runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning junior Cuyler Franzke delivered a pitch and an Arkansas State hitter put the ball in play. Hit to shortstop Cole Kraft, Kraft got to the ball and he attempted to field it. The ball kicked in between his legs and Cole lost his footing. While this was happening an ASU player was rounding 3rd. Before he knew it Kraft was on his butt with his legs in full hurdler stretch without a realistic chance of getting the guy at home. Game over 4-3. Very back-breaking loss for us because it was two chances we had to get a win, not only to find ourselves 0-2, both coming from walk-off hits. In both games we never really trailed, which is the most disappointing thing about the outcome. We let them get back in those games, without a knockout punch. However, losing this game was now in the past, with the 2nd game of the double header coming a little before dusk.
Getting the start on the mound was senior pitcher Jordan Herbert. A savvy veteran of his own coming off a redshirt year due to arm problems. He was beginning the game on a pitch count in order for him to build his arm up for later in the year. Our team started the game off with the same mentality of winning we came to Arkansas with. ASU got off to a four run lead and did not look back, putting us away 11-4 and giving us our 3rd loss on the year. It was just one of those kind of games where too many opportunities were lost and none were taken. On our way back to the hotel we were certainly disappointed with ourselves for not playing the kind of baseball we wanted to. This would not effect our focus for the final game however. One thing we are taught, or lectured about, is living in the moment. You cannot do anything about the previous game, the previous pitch, previous at bat, or anything for that matter. The only thing you can control is the present, this pitch, this at bat, this out or this swing. One of the several great insights our coaching staff offers is this very point. So naturally we are already gearing up for the next days action. Going to sleep and forgetting about this rough day on the field, and focusing on Sunday.
Sunday treated us a little better physically. Bumps and bruises were something we are getting used to as well as what a full speed baseball game feels like afterward. Yeah, arms will be sore and legs will feel stiff but we still have a game to play, and we have nothing to lose, but everything to gain. It was a beautiful 50 degrees by the time the game started. Weather we in Wisconsin only see maybe 1/3 of the time.
Getting the start in the 4th game was junior pitcher/utility Chad Pierce. Pierce got off to a rough start, with ASU tagging six runs on us. The second inning showed us a glimpse of power senior Dan Buchholz has. Buchholz provided us with our first homerun of the year, smashing a fastball over the left field wall, probably landing 390 feet later. By the 7th inning it was 6-3 with Arkansas State having the advantage (another homerun by Dan Buchholz gave us the 3rd run). By the end of the game we were given another loss, 8-3. We had several opportunities to get that extra 2 out hit, or extra 2 inches on a pitches however today just was not our day on the diamond. Going to the showers and on the way home one would probably think how can you see any positive in this weekend. Here's how we see it...
Being able to identify the positives in a baseball game, and weekend, is an art. Most of the time people are too caught up with the negatives of anything. Sure, we had negative aspects about our team’s play this whole weekend, and those were addressed. We like to look at the positive aspects so we can focus on getting those to mesh. Believe it or not there were alot of positives within this weekend series. One of which that is a huge factor for any collegiate or professional team is that the first-year players (freshman) are stepping in and contributing. Drew Pearson and John Capasso had very good at bats and each had a pair of RBI’s on the weekend. Pitchers Jordan Guth and Eric Semmelhack (referenced above) had good outings for us. Having young players filling in the holes from last year is a promising thing to see. Having older guys who have been around and proven themselves with young players just reaching their potential makes for an exciting year. Other things to note are the great hustle and burning desire to win. One thing head coach Scott Doffek said to us Saturday before the game was “when I was walking back to the dugout after last nights loss (one which we lost 6-5 on a walk off hit), I could sense that you guys were disappointed, truly disappointed, which is great, means you care more about your teammates than yourself”.I think that will be one continuing storyline for this years team. We believe in ourselves and want ourselves to do well of course, however the team is above all, wanted to hit, throw a strike, and win for the guy to your left or right is mostly important. The make-up of the 2010 UWM Baseball team is one of young/old, goofy/serious, experienced/inexperienced, but one thing remains constant, COMPETITIVE. We will not lay down for anyone and I hope that teams come through expecting us to, because thats when we’re most dangerous. Heres to a great year, with many wins, personal accomplishments, and satisfaction, and most important of all limited Panther U-Turns….funny baseball joke.
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