You see a lot of seniors when you look at the box score after a DePauw baseball game. You also usually see a win with the success the team has had. The baseball team is championship-quality this year, and it is because of the seniors.
Out of the ten players that consistently rotate into the starting lineup and lead the team in appearances, eight are seniors. Three of the four starting pitchers, as well as the closer, are also seniors.
The class has won a total of 84 games already in their careers. DePauw started playing baseball in 1866, and this year’s senior class has a chance to end as one of the top five winningest classes in DePauw history. Success like this is not all about talent. There is a certain connection teams have to have to win this many games, and the seniors have that connection.
“The senior class is strongly united,” senior Mike Hammel said. “We have a bond that enables us to reach new goals because everyone has the same vision. Everyone is connected with one another and ingrained with how each person is doing on and off the field.”
As seniors in high school, the group got recruited by former Head Coach Jake Martin. Martin coached the group for three years before leaving for his alma mater, Wabash College. Stepping in his place was Blake Allen. Senior Zach Wade says this was just one of the many challenges the group has had to face together, which has only brought them closer.
“We've been through a lot of high’s and low’s together from having successful and disappointing seasons to changing head coaches before the start of our senior year,” Wade said. “However, the journey has only made us a more cohesive unit.”
Many of the seniors have played major roles on the team for several years now, but many of them have made significant strides this year. For example, the team hit a total of three home runs last year. Seniors Jack Thompson, Hammel, and Wade have already hit 21 home runs this year combined.
The offense is not the only improvement the group has made either. Senior pitchers Nick Horvath, Riley Futterknecht and Hammel have all improved their earned run averages since last year.
Even the intensity and attitude on game day has improved. There is more chatter from the dugout, more excitement during big moments, and more comradery on the team.
“We've always been talking about being a close senior group and have been visualizing leading this team for the last three years,” senior Andrew Quinn said. “It is great to see it all coming into fruition. We're always looking out for each other on and off the field.”
The team has many goals this year. Some players spoke about winning each game one at a time. Others spoke about a conference championship. And others talked about making an NCAA tournament run. The team has shown the talent to achieve all these goals, but it will be determined by how well the seniors play down the stretch.
When asked about the bond the senior class holds together, Quinn said a simple sentence to describe it.
“We’re brothers.”