One of the many facets of my identity comes from my love of sports, both on and off the field. This passion has been life long, as I can remember watching a slew of Wisconsin sports icons like Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Brandon Jennings, and Donald Driver, back when I could count my age on one hand. As I got older, this passion grew and grew, as did my desire to actually play. In second grade, I finally got my chance.
It was a warm summer evening. With the sun beaming down on me, it was finally time for my first game of my first ever baseball season. I was seven years old and ready to play. My little league team, the Twins, was made up of mostly classmates and friends of mine, so I wasn’t going to have any trouble fitting in. We were taking on the Rays, who featured other classmates and friends of mine, so the rivalry and intensity was already there. My coach was the father of one of my best friends, Doctor Peter Baye. He would always encourage us by reminding us of our team rules, being “1. Keep the ball in front of you. 2. If you like it, launch it. 3. Have fun”. Maybe it was because of this encouragement that I was not nervous when I stepped up to the plate for the first time. Maybe it was because I had been on this small dirt field plenty of times with my dad, who along with my brothers, spent hours and hours playing and practicing. Either way, the nerves weren’t there. I stared down the pitcher, which Coach Baye would eventually call my game face. In came the first pitch: right down the middle. I swung as hard as my little seven year old body could, and DING! The ball flew off my bat and into left center field; a perfect line drive. I scurried out of the box, rounded first, and slid into second base on the rough dirt infield for a double. I was so happy. All my time practicing had paid off, as in my eyes then, I was just like my heroes I saw at Miller Park, getting hits and making plays.
Though we would go on to have a poor season overall, I still had fun, and my intensity and passion for the game has stayed with me all these years. It still is with me today, as not only do I play in college for SNC, but the work ethic, the ability to work and come together as a team, and friendships I’ve made through baseball haved last the test of time.
