A New Era

September 20

What an exciting day! Saturday started with the opening ceremony for the new Prentiss Field complex and culminated with a double-header scrimmage against SUNY New Paltz. Although, we had our own games to focus on, it felt like Saturday was about more than just baseball. It was about Vassar athletics as a whole. With soccer and field hockey games on the fields next to the baseball diamond and alums surveying the beautiful new complex, it was clear that Saturday was the beginning of a new era.

What was most striking was that it was apparent even to the opponents that Vassar was on the rise. After reaching second base on a passed ball, the SUNY New Paltz shortstop said to me, “This is a beautiful field. It must be great for your program!”

And we played like a team improving, as well. Our offense is exciting! We have 10 to 11 guys who can all hit in the top of the order. We sprayed line drives all over the field and it will be interesting to see how the lineup plays out during the season. Sophomore Joe Castilla hit a first inning homer (only the second ever at Prentiss Field) and sophomore David Ringold hit a double and triple. Our pitching was also solid with senior Tyler Bellstrom starting the first game.

I like to come to the field every day with a purpose, whether it’s working on my footwork in the field or taking the ball the opposite way at the plate. As a team, it looked like we came to the field Saturday with a purpose. We wanted to get the season off right and we definitely played well. Individually, I came to the field with the purpose of getting some experience in at first base and showing some power at the plate like I did near the end of my summer season.

I was very pleased with the way I played defense at first base. I got more comfortable at the position as the game went along, and my confidence in my ability to play the position is now where it needs to be going into the offseason. Although, I didn’t hit any extra-base hits on Saturday, I was able to get on base and score four times. Overall, I was pleased with the both the team’s performances and my performance. In a way it seems that the fall season culminated with our scrimmages yesterday, but in fact, we still have two more weeks of practice to go. It’s nice to use the scrimmage as a starting point, knowing that we played well and we will only get better.