Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

    This group of 15 seniors has been at the core of the program’s success since the day they set foot onto this campus. This success can be seen not only on the baseball field but in the locker room and in the Saint Mary’s community. We will miss these 15 seniors, but they have left a footprint on this program that will last for years to come.
    
Ben Johnson, I want to thank you for all that you do for this program both on and off the field. I remember the first time I watched Ben pitch in legion ball. After watching him for 3 innings, I called Coach Jake and told him “we have to have this kid”. Ben has been a major part of our program as one our top arms since the day he stepped foot on this campus. He has been a great leader both by example and with the energy and passion he brings daily.  Ben’s energy and love for the game and his teammates injects joy to all of those that he is around.  I am going to miss everything that Ben brings to this university and program. Benny will be highly successful when he leaves this university because of the person he is today and the person he will continue to develop into. Thanks for doing all the behind the scenes work from the laundry to keeping the locker room clean. I know Krone is going to miss doing laundry with you down on our spring trips! Good luck Benny!
    
Stephen Scatassa, I want to thank you for bringing a joy and passion for the game to our program over the last 4 years. You have worked hard to be a rock for our pitching staff and have really had a wonderful senior season as one of the top arms in the MIAC. I also want to thank you for bringing all of the St. Joe’s players with you after you decided you were going to attend this university. I didn’t know at the time when we were recruiting you that you would help bring the rest of the St. Joe’s crew with you. I guess we owe you big time! You have a great work ethic and your knowledge of the game will help you continue to give back to the game as you continue to coach.  I have watched you mature over your years here and I am proud you are a part of our cardinal baseball family. Good luck Steph!
    
Jake Dawson, I want to thank you for bringing an intensity to our program daily. Your work ethic and drive to be great both on and off the field impresses your teammates and coaches. I have watched you turn into one of the true leaders in our program and you should be extremely proud of that.  You have worked your way up the depth chart since your freshman year and you are more than deserving of the success you have had and are having on the field. I will miss you and Whitey stressing about school work as we go through warm-ups and having Willie look at you two like you are both crazy. You have grown so much since the day you walked out on the field and I am proud that you are and will always be a part of this program. Good luck Jake!
    
Ryan Fejt, I want to thank you for being you! The day I first met you while on your visit, I was reminded to never judge a book by its cover. When you walked through the door of the admissions office I saw the long blonde hair and tattoos and I thought to myself, this can’t be the guy I have been talking and texting with.  I learned very quickly that you have a loving heart, passion and work ethic for all that you do. You have pitched many big innings for us over the past two years, but the thing I am proud of the most is watching you open up with your teammates and coaches. Life brings people into our lives for different reasons and I know we are thankful that you decided Saint Mary’s was the right fit for you as this program is better because you have been a part of it. Good luck Ryan!
    
AJ Redders, I want to thank you for driving all of us nuts with your love for the Badgers. You are one of a kind Red’s and I wouldn’t ask you to change it for the world. I watched you come in as a freshman, not sure of yourself and now watching you leave knowing who you are and where you want to go, it’s beyond wonderful. You have had many roles in our program and you take on each role like it’s the most important role there is. Because of this, your teammates and coaches have always respected and admired who you are. Even though you drive half of the team nuts with all of your statements on sports and politics it has always been good for the group. You have increased your work ethic and drive each year and I know you will have the tools to continue to grow and develop into the person you want to be down the road. Good luck AJ!
    
Brian Powers, I want to thank you for your willingness to do all of the little things better than the next guy. You have always been willing to do whatever needs to be done to help the team have success. Whether it be picking signs, throwing to hitters live, or getting on teammates to improve. Brian, know that who you are and what you bring to the table has always been appreciated from your teammates and coaches. Being a good friend and a teammate is
not always just about saying yes. It’s about being honest and true friendships and relationships start with that piece. You have been a joy to have in the program and I am going to miss our conversations we have had over the years. Know that you will always get a slushy if I am around! You will be highly successful and you are deserving of that success Brian! Good luck Pow!
    
Tyler “Whitey” Lursen, I want to thank you for being the teammate that will talk to anyone, the guy that everyone on campus either knows or knows of ,but more importantly for being a hardworking, tough minded catcher that this program needed. Whitey, you are one of a kind and I am beyond impressed with how much you have grown over
these four years. I know I have always been tough on you and you at times think I am extra tough on you, but I do that because I want the best for you and I know you can do it. I always told you that if I didn’t have high expectations for you, I would just stop coaching you. I have never stopped coaching you Whitey and I never will. If I find out you are slacking next year at school, I will drive up for one of our chats. You have always responded and have been a great leader for this group. I am going to miss your smile at practice, listening to your teammates yell, ”C’mon White” and the moments you leave me scratching my head. I will miss all of those moments. Good luck Tyler!
   
Josh Ketchmark, I want to thank you for being one of the most unselfish players we have ever had in our program. Every teammate and team you have been on is better because of you. You are a great example of what it means to dominate your role for the success of the team. Anytime we need someone to catch a pen, you where there without hesitation or complaint. Even though you will not find your name in the box score because of a big hit, it is because of you and the sacrifices you have made for the team that allows us to have success. You are a great leader to the younger guys about the importance of teammates and I know you will take all of the experiences you have had here to help continue to grow into a great coach. Good luck Ketch!
    
Cale Pieczynski, I want to thank you for bringing a hard-nose, old school approach to the field every day. That was one of the things I have always admired about your game and I think has helped you turn into one of the most improved players we have ever had in the program. You have really grown both on and off the field and it’s always fun to watch someone find their passion in life. You have the tools to be successful in life and you have a personality that people like to be around. I know I am not the only one that enjoys picking on you at times, but I know you love it! One day I know you will beat Willie in a foot race but that day isn’t today or tomorrow my friend. You are getting closer though. All kidding aside I am proud of the work and the time you have put in, to make yourself an everyday player and someone that is going to be tough to replace next year! Good luck Cale!
    
Jake Frost, I want to thank you for being a leader of the infielders. You have had to go through what no senior should have to go through this year. Your teammates and coaches have been impressed by the way you have handled everything thrown your way. You have been a great role model to all of us and I know you have some magic left in your for the rest of the year. You have been a steady rock for this team and have shown the younger guys that all players take different paths in the program; you have been a great example. You have had to wait your turn and while waiting your turn you never complained but instead did what you could to improve and make others around you better. I know this isn’t how you wanted to have your senior year go, but know that your Dad and Grandpa are still with you and are proud of who you are. You will continue to do good things if you continue to commit to yourself and those around you. Good luck Frosty!
    
Shawn Morris, I want to thank you for always having the ability to lighten the mood. I remember when you transferred here and now watching you grow as a person has been a great experience. You have really come out of your shell and I never really knew how big of a smart ass you were. You do have good lines and I enjoy listening to you razz your teammates from afar. Your teammates love to be around you and I think that is the gift you bring to this team. I am excited to see what the future will hold for you down the road, besides hearing about your golf game. The future is bright for you Shawn because of who you are and the work you put into things. Never stop being a great
teammate when you leave here because that is what makes you special. Good Luck Shawn!
    
Willie Doll, I want to thank you for being one of the leaders since the day you walked onto campus four years ago. You lead now differently than you did as a younger player, but you have always been our leader. The great thing about you Willie is everyday your teammates and coaches knew what you would bring to the field. You leave our program holding many records and you will some day without a doubt be in the Cardinal Hall of Fame. That is wonderful in all, but like I have said a million times, you need to be a Hall of Fame person first, and you are a first ballot in my book. This program is better because you have been and will always be a part of it.  Your talent as a baseball player is something very special; I have never seen anyone run the bases like you. I am not sure what I am going to do next year when I can’t write number 8 in the lead-off spot playing center. Anytime a ball is hit towards the outfield I think to myself, “No biggie Will has it”. You are a very special person and have the power to impact others. It’s a gif; don’t lose it. Even though I never had the chance to meet your Dad, I can only imagine how proud he is of you. Good Luck Willie!
    
Alec Rolain, I want to thank you for being the type of person and player this program is all about. You are unselfish, hardworking, disciplined, competitive and best of all a great person. I have really been impressed with the person you have grown into over these last four years. It’s crazy to think the next step for you is to go to law school in the cities and start that chapter. Remember, worry about the process and not the end result. When you get overwhelmed, Just WIN the day Rollie, and you will do just fine. The thing I love about teams is how every person has a major part in the team’s success and you need everyone to be going in the same direction at the same time. You have turned into the player that we can all count on to help get us going in that direction. You have been a great example of what it means to dominate your role. Whether it be as a runner, coming off the bench to hit, or doing the productive AB chart. You have been the unselfish teammate we talked about daily and have done a wonderful job. Good luck Rollie!
    
Peder Sviggum, I want to thank you for being one of the most genuine people I have ever come in contact with. I don’t think I have ever meet another person like you Peder, ever! You work your butt off every day at practice to not only make yourself better, but to make those around you better. You are a great teammate and one that your teammates love to see around campus and on the field. You practice hard, have a loud voice even when you are not trying to be loud, yell things at our infielders when they are about to field the ball and more importantly you are truly a good person! Everyone has great things to say about you Peder when your name comes up in conversation all around campus. You have left a positive mark on not only this program but this university. The future for you bud is very bright and just remember that sometimes we don’t always get what we want right away in life. If you can keep trusting and believing that the process will work, you will be rewarded tenfold.  You are a special, one of a kind person Peder and it was a great experience to have you a part of this program. Good luck Peder!
    
Richard Palermo, I want to thank you for coming to me your freshman year and asking if you can be a manager on the team. I really don’t know what we would have done without you.  You have not only impacted our program but this whole university in a very positive manner. You leave Saint Mary’s as one of those students who teachers, classmates, coaches and administrators will always remember. You have had many roles on this campus and have done all of them wonderfully. I am beyond excited to see where life takes you, as you have many gifts that will only improve as time goes on. Thank you for showing Kleve and OG how your role gets done at a high level in our program. Scotty set the bar and you not only matched it, you exceeded it. Ricky, I forgive you for hitting me with the Rookie as it has now made for some smiles and laughs amongst the team. I just remember seeing your face when I looked out at you after the ball directly hit me in the side. You have many gifts Rick; don’t let anything stand in your way. Just don’t forget us small timers when you make it big! Good luck Richard!