As a player, writing your Senior Salute is one of the toughest things to do. As a coach, it doesn’t get much easier. I had the great privilege of coaching these young men from day one when they stepped out on the field and put on the red and white, one year as the assistant, and all the others as the head. Even though I did not have a great impact on the recruitment of this class, I have always considered them one of my classes. This is a very special group of seniors that deserve a ton of praise and thanks for all that they have done not only for the Cardinal Baseball program but the SMU community. You guys will always be remembered and welcomed back whenever you get the chance because you have and will continue to have a great impact on the direction of this program. As I have told most of you, five years from now when you look back, you can smile because you have influenced this program and it will be because of you that we will continue to push forward. Thank you to all of the seniors for their hard work, dedication, and belief in doing things the right way.
Andrew Ruf is not only the kind of player you hope to have in your program, but more importantly the type of person you love to have both in the program and in the University. Andrew has been a big part of our pitching staff since he first walked onto the campus after transferring from the other school across town. I will never forget the first time I met Andrew in person, as I was taken aback by this big fella only to hear his soft voice as he started to talk. Andrew is one of the nicest kids I have ever coached, and has really taken on a leadership role with the pitching staff this past year. If any of you know Andrew, you know he is a well rounded student athlete that excels at everything he does. Andrew is one of those players that when he talks, people listen. Andrew, I want to thank you for all that you have done for this program. You will be missed dearly. I wish you the best of luck down the road as you will make a terrific coach one day! Good luck and don’t be a stranger to the Cardinal baseball program down the road. Thank you Andrew!
Andrew “Rew” Warren has grown so much over the past four years and it has been a pleasure to coach him and witness this first hand. Rew has become the leader of this team over the past two years and even though he can be grumpy at times, you know if you ask Rew to get something done that not only will it happen but it will be done the right way with no corners being cut. Rew is tough as nails and there is nothing that will stop him from trying to do his best all the time. If you just look at Rew’s stat line for the year it doesn’t show how good of a year he is having. I have never in all my life seen someone hit so many balls so hard that go right at people. I only wish that half of them would have dropped because he deserves it. Rew and I have always had a good relationship even. after the day where we found out that nothing is, “Impossible.” Rew, you will be highly successful at whatever you decide to do in life, and I hope you understand how much of an impact you have had on this program and the direction we are moving towards. I will miss the days of watching you come into practice and asking myself “Is it a good day or a bad day to talk to Rew?” In all seriousness, Rew, it has been a pleasure to coach you and to build a relationship with you that I hope carries on throughout the years. Thank you Andrew!
Chris Bogie, in my opinion, you made one of best the decisions of your life half way through the 1st semester this year. I have known Chris since he was a little kid running around the ball fields at his Dad’s fastpitch games and running on the fields at the school in the cities that we don’t mention during summer baseball camp. Chris, it has been tough at times over the years, but I am truly and sincerely happy that you were able to have the senior year you are having both at the plate and on the mound. You are having by far the best year as a Cardinal baseball player, and I think a great majority of the success has come from realizing how much the game means to you. Chris you are and have always been the guy on the team that everyone enjoys being around because of the type of person you. Your work ethic and dedication has grown more this year than ever before and I thank you for that. You are a competitor in every aspect of the game and I know that no matter the situation, you want the ball in your hand to close out the game or to get the big hit. Looking back I should have pitched you sooner, which I know you will remind me of relentlessly over the years. Continue to follow and stay part of this program down the road. Thanks you Chris!
David Timmons, I will never forget the looks on the hitters faces when I tell them to go stand in for one of your bullpen sessions. You have really come a long ways in all aspects of life over these four years and have grown not only on the field and in the classroom, but in real life as well. You have improved in multiple aspects of life each year and have pitched some important innings for us so far, and hopefully will continue to the rest of the season. You can always get me to shake my head when I see or hear what you did in just a session of playing catch or throwing a bullpen. I will never forget the day you hit the scoreboard but it’s with that wildness that has helped you put fear in hitters. You have some of the best stuff on the staff and when you are on your stuff, it’s nasty. Continue to keep growing as a person because I really think your best years are still to come and you will be successful with whatever life brings you. Thank you David for always keeping the coaching staff on our toes and for your great work ethic to become the best pitcher you could become. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you David!
Gary Seifert, you always have had the ability to get a smile and a laugh out of all your teammates and coaches over these past four years. I think you might have the worst luck out of any SMU Cardinal pitcher since I have been around. There have been so many games I thought you threw great even though you didn’t get the win. The best part is that it never stopped you from working hard and showing up every day. You have a great sense of humor that has carried you throughout your life and please don’t lose that because it makes you, you. You were always willing to take the mound no matter the opponent and give it all you had. I think sometimes people over look how much you care because of your sense of humor, but not me. I see it Gary, and I know how much it means to you to do well and to work hard. I thank you for that. I want to wish you the best of luck down the road and will miss the classic Gary Seifert laugh on the bus that brings into laughter no matter my mood. Continue to keep me updated on the great athletes that Prescott has to offer, because I have yet to have a bad apple from that great place you call home. Best of Luck and thank you Gary!
Jake Lechner is the player you hate to play against but love to have on your team. That I think is one of the best compliments anyone can give. Since day one, Jake is usually the first out on the field and the last to leave. Jake is always one of the guys picking up the dugout/ bus after games to make sure things are done the right way. If you know Jake, this doesn’t shock you one bit. Jake has become a rock for this team both on and off the field, pushing his teammates to be the best they can be in and out of season. I don’t know if I have seen a player maximize his ability more than Jake has over the years. He has turned into one of the best outfielders in the MIAC in my opinion, and he doesn’t get enough credit for what he brings to the team. He is always competing to be the best and to bring others with him as he works his way to the top. I really wish Jake didn’t get injured this year; he deserved to play all 40 games because of the work he puts in day in and day out. Jake is the first guy willing to do the little things and players like Jake don’t come around every day. I wish you the best of luck down the road even though I know you don’t need luck because you will earn all that you have. Don’t be a stranger to the program as I will continue to keep tabs on how you are doing. Thank you Jake!
Joe O’Neill, what can I say? I am glad you straightened up and came to SMU. The one thing that stands out about Joe is his willingness to do what is best for the team at all times and to embrace whatever his role may be. Joe is one of the hardest working players I have had in the program. He doesn’t care about his own personal agenda but rather what is best for the rest of the team. Joe has not only grown on the field, but also in the classroom where he has done a great job of pushing himself daily. Joe, I want to truly thank you for all of the time and energy you have put in to not only make yourself better but this program better. Its players like you that build this program by being the player willing to do the dirty work and push the guys next to you at practice. Joe I wish you nothing but the best in life and there is no substitute for hard work – it always pays off in the end. One last thing…… Who is Township again? Thank you Joe!
Sam Levsien, what can I say, other than you amaze me in your ability to do what you want to do when you put your mind to it. You have amazed me since day one, whether it be pitching or playing basketball anything can be done if you believe it can. You have been and will be well respected by not just your teammates and coaches, but by everyone you encounter in life. You have pitched some big innings for us over these past four years, and I don’t think I was ever so happy when you came in down in Iowa this year and shut the door for the save. It’s moments like that, as a coach, really brings a smile to my face. Sam your hard work both at practice and in the off-season has pushed more pitchers then you know. You are not a vocal leader, but one that leads by showing up every day and doing your best to get better helping those along the way. I can’t say it enough, but you are a part of a senior class that has made a huge impact on the direction of the program. Where ever life leads you, I wish you nothing but the best because I know once you put your mind to it you can get the job done. Thank you Sam!
|
