Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

There isn’t any one word that would describe my baseball experience here at Saint Mary’s. Fun, happy, interesting, disappointed, joyful, angry, sad, and awesome, are all words that I would use to describe it.  Our class has been run through the proverbial ringer and has lived to tell about it.  We’ve been through a couple regime changes, we’ve been a part some of the worst seasons in the schools history, and we’ve been through a season with no field. I wouldn’t have it any other way though. No matter all the hardships we went through we always found something to smile about, because in the end it is just a game and it is supposed to fun.  With that in mind, I can now really see how much the game of baseball translates into real life. The game holds you to a higher standard in all aspects of life. It helps with teamwork and relationship development, it helps with organization, it helps with professionalism, and it helps you overcome failure. All of these things will definitely help me the rest of my life and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to play at the Mary’s.
   
This opportunity wouldn’t have happened at all without my family.  My mom and dad are the ones who sent me to college and who constantly support me with every decision I make. Thanks for coming to the games and cheering me on, even though I am always grumpy and mad at myself for my in game performance it is always refreshing to talk to everybody after the game.  Thanks to Mark and Olivia for also coming to all the games, they are probably both going to better athletes than I am, being that Mark can already hit farther than me and Olivia can wear a line drive in the back and think nothing of it.  Also thanks to Ann and Mary for taking time out of their lives to come and watch me. I appreciate the support and everything that you do for me. Lastly I want to thank my uncle Jerry. He taught me all of the ins and outs of the game going all the way back to tee ball. Not only that but he has taught me how to do everything in my life the right way and how to be respectable person in general. Thank You.  
   
The baseball program has allowed me to be a big part of the Mary’s community, doing things I never would have done otherwise. Most importantly it allowed me to meet some great people and make friends that I will have for the rest of my life. First, I would like to thank all the coaches that I’ve had over my career. Coach Whaley and Winke have taught me a lot over the years and aided me with the progression I needed to become the player I am today. Not only have the provided me with baseball knowledge but they have been good “off the field” role models as well. I’ve learned a lot of life lessons from them and learned that having good, positive character is just as important as knowing how to hit a curveball. Secondly, I would like to thank all my teammates.  You guys are really what made this such a great experience and I don’t think I would be the same person without such good people to be around. Specifically Brett: Unstoppable tandem township force…co-captain of team whoo-sa…the perfect game is about to be epic…we need some pantone gray #4 though…Jamal: More scouring is order to find the phantom iPod…and I’m still tryin to get those sweatpants…I dig your style…Joey O: best crossword partner there is…still on our never-ending quest for the deals…For townships sake I hope they’re in my catcher’s bag I still haven’t checked there yet…Krause:  tied with me for greatest tinkerer in the U.S. … You need to get on that tilt shift program though…Dahlstrom: I have a feeling Mr. Bauer isn’t going to make it out of this one … I’ll text you once I get a phone…Arch: awesome catch partner and fellow food connoisseur … . Kyle: fastest dude I know…also the most outspoken (which is awesome) … thanks for doin the laundry! ... Dwyer: Paula Creamer needs to set up a tee time ASAP… also NO MORE FREAKING FRESHMEN! ... Lechner: DINGER! I’M HOME!!! ... thanks for putting up with all my crap this year … Danny G: Don’t nuke our imaginations bra! Whhheeeeew! Curt: Go sell some salt and then enjoy your meal Max: I think being a touchy feely team has definitely made us better. Keep it up.  Bogus: Hardest Game Ever!! Keep workin those forearms. Drew: the angriest baseball player I know but it makes you that much better … you would be a perfect candidate for team whoo-sa.  Kampmeyer: you are a horse but I’m still stronger than you … so you should figure that out. Cody: you’re hilarious but you’re a huge pansy and you make fun of me all the time so I don’t really like you. HA! ps. I still owe you a hat. Teddy: throw more knuckleballs ... we’ll figure it during the summer Vinny: When you go to an art museum they let you touch the art … you are the guy.
   
Also thanks to all the past teammates that I have had that aren’t on the team this year. Confessor Kruse Gonzalez: Changed my whole perspective on life and also tore it up with me last season. Schmidty aka Coach Schmidt (HAHAHHA): We had some good times behind the dish…always had a epic time whenever we hung out..we should find a todd snider concert though for real … Pass: my fellow rosevillian … we were always on the same page even the rest of the world wasn’t. HAHAHA!! Farah: another fellow rosevillian … still should be playing…one of the hardest players I know…we still have had some great times though actually I usually have the greater times but that’s not always good … I don’t think I’ve been to your house since then .. HAHHAHA!! Wilgenbusch: Awesome pitcher..expert at hitting people…also saved my life so I probably owe you for that .. I’ll think of something.
   
To anyone I forgot I still love you and I hope you feel the same for me, but due to time constraints and lack of a good memory I can’t write anymore.
   
These four years have been the best time of my life and I would like to thank everyone again who made it possible. It has been an honor wearing the red and white and I am very grateful for my time here.
   
Thanks,
Zach Olberding