Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

Wow, I cant believe that our season is over already.  It has been a long road that I am very proud to say that I was apart of.  Baseball and this team have defined my time here at Saint Mary’s and I wouldn’t trade anything for the experiences I have had here.

When I came to Saint Mary’s I really didn’t know anybody and I can remember within the first couple of days I found myself meeting all of my new teammates out on the field at captains practice.  Coming from Minneapolis, it was a little weird seeing all of these guys out there jamming out to some country music.  I found this pretty funny, but I probably looked pretty funny myself showing up to the field with huge rocks in my ears. It didn’t take long though to realize that this was a great group of guys who really knew how to have a good time.  And having a good time is exactly what we have been doing for the last four years.

I remember the first official fall ball practice when I was a freshman.  All the guys told me ahead of time to show up early, but I soon found out that early in this program really means EARLY.  I was the last one on the field when I showed up about ten, fifteen minutes early and the whole team was already meeting on the way other side of the field with the coach.  And then on top of that I was the first to get yelled for talking to my partner when we were playing catch.  So much for first impression with Coach Whaley… 

So far in my four years here, we have won a total of thirteen MIAC games.  Yes, it would have been nice to win some more games, but that doesn’t really matter anymore.  What matters now after it’s all done is the memories we’ve all had together.  It all starts in practice everyday working hard, and then chillin in the locker room before and after practice. We’ve had all of the bus rides including the long 27-hour trip down to Florida which turned out to be one crazy trip.  But despite all of the great times we’ve had within baseball, it’s always about more than baseball.  It’s more about the relationships we have formed with each other. All of the late nights we have all spent together, Jenga games, crazy trips to T.I., all of the wings we have ate and 2 for 1ing ourselves, all of the Sunday fundays, Center Street Sliders, all of the trips to Mccunes at 12 o’clock for carabaloo’s and possum eggs, all of the breaks we’ve spent together being the only ones on campus.  All of it being some of the best times of my life.

First, I would like to thank God for everything.  For blessing me with my family and my friends.  Those are the most important things in life and I’m very lucky that I have a great family and great friends. I also would like to thank God for blessing me with the ability to play college baseball.

To my parents: Mom and Dad, you both are always there for me. ALWAYS.  You both have always found ways to get to my games, and it really makes me happy when I see you guys in the stands.  You both have worked so hard so that I could have a good college education and overall a good life. THANK YOU.  I love you both, you guys mean the world to me.  To my sister Katie, you have always been there for me too.  You’ve always
set a great example for me and taught me some things along the way.  I promise that I will make it out to Madison and visit you this summer. I love you.

I want to thank Coach Winecke. Thank you for giving me the chance to compete for a position on this team.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play and start in this program, it was a long three years on the bench and I really appreciate you giving me a shot.  Even though our record doesn’t show it, we have improved so much this year.  You know a lot about baseball and you bring the drive and motivation to win and compete that this program was lacking.  I know that you will be successful and be in the MIAC tournament in the near future.  I would also like to thank Al for all of the time you spent on the field throwing us BP or hitting us fly balls.  Kuhn, thank you for trying to hit us fly balls. But I do really appreciate you taking your time to be with us when we were in a tight spot.  Thanks to Coach Rob to for being there when you could and stepping in when we were assistant coachless.

To all the seniors who I have been playing with for the past four years, it has been a long road.  We have been through a lot of losses together, but we sure did make the best of it.  Alex, I’m really sorry that you were injured all year man.  It sucks, but my props to you for battling through it every game and still blocking every ball behind the plate and throwing guys out.  I’ll never forget that night you fell down the stairs in Benilde, I still laugh thinking about seeing those legs fly in the air.  Brandon, between splitting kings and getting drunk off of coffee at T.I. or those crazy trips to the Olive Garden, you are always a fun guy to be around.  I don’t know if remember this like I do, but earlier this year, we had a long conversation about baseball and you told me that this team was going to need me this year.  That was the first time that I really felt that I was important to this team.  I thank you for that, you have really stepped up and been a great leader for us this year. You sure have some sick flow. Rob, you have stellar defense man.  There have been so many great plays over at first base.  I still don’t know how you can down as many energy drinks as you.  We have had some good times together. Pass the Wiz, I’m glad I got to know you.  All of those trips back and forth from the cities, we’ve had some great conversations. You have some dirty stuff on the mound. To all of the seniors, I salute you. 

And for the rest of the guys: Swenny, Fersch, Krause, and a couple of other guys, I absolutely loved when you guys would come over to Hillside all those times.  We have had some amazing times in that room.  Swenson. You are the guy. You have always believed in me. Ever since fall ball my sophomore year, you always believed that I could contribute to this team. I can’t even explain how much that means to me. I love you man, so many great times with you whether it be me yelling for you to WAAIIIITTT, or beef tips.  You always bring the energy getting all loose, LOOSE and WILD! Keep raking and hitting the crap out of the ball.  You have by far the best and funniest Elton John impersonation I have ever seen and always the best expressions and story telling.  Willy, you have had a different home every semester since you transferred here and I’m sure that everyone kind of enjoyed your stay.  We have had a lot of laughs together, even if it was just me and you sitting on the couch and not moving for an entire day, it has been a trip.  You are the only guy I will ever know that gave up a bomb for an out.  Now that takes some real skills.  Ding, you have your own style to everything you do.  I love it. You are one hell of a hitter. Its all about the hands. You have done some legendary stuff over the years that we can reminisce about later. Fersch, Team Dynasty.  You are a stud pitcher.  You bring the heat and have some nasty stuff.  I love hanging out with you. Many, many good times with you. Krause, my roomie in the ZONA!  I’m sorry you got injured this year, I loved roaming the outfield with you. You are going to tear it up next year whether it be at the plate or on the bump. We’ve had a lot good laughs together.  I still haven’t figured out why a fly is called a fly instead of a bird and why guys tend to toss a ball around a room. Joey O, I hung out with you a lot this year and have loved every minute of it.  I have a brain fart and can’t remember what song it was, maybe Papa Roach, but we were JAMMING OUT in your basement, straight craziness. Wilgenbusch, You ask a whole lot of question but I love every single one of them.  That night at the Ground Pound has to be my favorite memory with you.  You showed a whole side of you that I never knew existed and I loved every minute of it.  You were like a god that night. It was legendary. You hold a sweet Saint Mary’s record and are a great pitcher.  Kyle Ryan.  I sold number 8 to you your freshman year, and at the time it felt like I was selling my soul to the devil, but it ended up being best sale ever, because you have been tearin’ it up ever since you got here.  You have the quickest hands and fastest turn I’ve ever seen; Fastest in the MIAC for sure. You are also a hitting machine. Dahlstrom, you are hilarious.  You are a great leader and hard worker.  I only wish that I had your study habbits. You are going to go far in life for sure. Arch, something about you, I don’t quite know what it is, maybe that big smile or the manner in which you talk, but you can always make me laugh.  I love when you dive because when you land, you land HARD and make the whole field shake.

Lechner, you are a straight grinder in the field.  You are the king of being a smart ass and I love every aspect of it, even when you’re smart remarks are aimed at me. Not afraid to say anything. In all realness though, you have made me a better ball player.  Every single day in practice you pushed me to get better.  Even if my arm was hangin and having a bad day, you would make sure that I was still working hard.  I’m glad that you were my catch partner all year and that I got to roam the outfield with you.  There is no doubt in my mind that all of those balls just a couple inches away from the tip of your glove will all be sick catches in the next couple years.  Bogs, man do you know how much I love those packouts.  And boy do I love demolishing those center street sliders with you because I know you love them just as much as I do.  You have a straight cannon from the outfield and I love the grunt every time you hit the ball.  You gave the best speech ever midway through the season.  Gary, you have the tightest leg kick ever and are a great pitcher.  You are such a goofy guy and have the funniest laugh and are just straight fun to be around.  One question: Why did the chickens cross the road? HAHAHA! Rew, you are a great guy and a good ball player. There are a lot of things that I like about you, for one thing your choice of a locker.  I love how you’re the first guy I see when I walk in the locker room and you always have a big smile and your face and say “Hey Kruse!” Junker, one of a kind.  You are somethin else, but I love it though.  There are so many funny stories about you, you are just a crazy, fun person to be around.  I’m glad that you came here and got to know you, you brought a good arm to the mound too.  Sam, you are always just lovin it and having a great time.  You are a great pitcher. Wanek, I think that it absolutely amazing that you know every single mascot, and you seem to know everything about sports.  You’re just a cool dude to be around.

Jack, you are a great ballplayer.  You can bring it from all aspects of the game, whether it’s in the field, at the plate, or on the mound.  I love having class with you, especially when you go back and forth with Wes.  It’s always a fun time playing or just chillin’ with you. Curt, you have the sweetest stance on the team by far. You are a straight goofball and I love watching you play outfield in practice.  Keep hitting the ball hard. Max, you are straight up just a nice guy.  You’re always a good guy to chat with.  Benny, you are a funny guy.  You say some pretty funny stuff and I love playing ball with you.  Casey, you are a good pitcher.  You made the best of every opportunity that you got on the mound.  You are gunna have a great career here.  Ruf, you have the voice of the mouse but it produces some pretty funny stuff… sometimes haha. You really did your thing out there on the mound this year.  I’m glad you transferred here. 

And now for some of the players in the past that I’ve played with: Brady, I don’t even know what to say.  Those are some big shoes to fill and I think I did alright. I’m glad you were there when I hit my bomb. Being roommates was short lived but it I loved every minute of it while it lasted. We’ve had a lot of good times together me and you.  I only wish that we could’ve roamed the outfield together more.  That night in the hot tub with Willy, Bogs, and Gary was legendary. Toshi, I’m pretty sure I love everything about you.  From your Whaley impressions to you always just stopping by to hang out.  We always have a good time together.  I can’t wait to come visit you in Japan sometime.  Farrah, I really wish you woulda been on the squad this year.  I miss not seeing you as much, we’ve had some good times together passing the power of the black. haha And to the rest of my teammates who I have played with over the years, its been fun.

To my roommates who I met all from baseball: Clay and Matt, you guys are my best friends down here.  We have been through thick and thin together.  From hard times to the best times of our lives, you guys have always been there for me.  We have had amazing times in Hillside and in our house. You both are truly great friends and I love you both. Pete, you do your own thing a lot of the time, but all of those hours spent in our living room together have been great.  Jesus, you never played baseball and we don’t live together anymore, but I still consider you my roomie!  You are also one of my best friends down here and between pulling all nighters during finals and hours spent together joking and laughing, we have had some great times together. Bad Robot!

Ah, I still cant believe that its all over already.  I just want to thank everybody for everything.  All of the laughs, all of great memories, all of the good times we have had together.  I hope that I leave you all with great memories of me and I hope that all of you have enjoyed playing with me, because I have certainly enjoyed playing with all of you and being apart of this team.  I salute you all.