Baseball finishes 8-3 on Florida trip

The Hopkins baseball team returns from a week-long trip to Florida having secured eight wins and a significant amount of momentum before beginning conference play. The Blue Jays showed off their deep pitching staff and explosive offense with one of the most complete rosters in recent years for storied head coach Bob Babb. Their early success can be attributed to a long-standing work ethic and mental preparedness that has the entire team determined and already in mid-season form.

Jake Enterlin, senior captain and starting pitcher, is optimistic for the team’s return to Baltimore after a productive week.

“Overall, it was an awesome trip. It was frustrating to have some cancellations due to weather, so everyone was really excited to get playing in the warm weather,” Enterlin said. “Our bats were hot, and we were able to put up a lot of runs. If we are able to hit well and our pitchers can throw strikes, we are going to be tough to beat.”

Senior Justin Drechsel was also optimistic about the team’s return to the field.

“I thought the most important part of the week was actually getting on the field to play since we had so many cancellations due to the weather in Baltimore,” the senior pitcher said. “This allowed us to prepare for the upcoming conference games by putting out different lineups and giving all the players a chance to show how ready they were to play.”

While each victory had contributions from both seasoned veterans and new faces, Brian Lin, a sophomore outfielder, and Nick Burns, a freshman pitcher, stole the headlines and earned the Centennial Conference players of the week for exceptional performances. The switch-hitting Lin took no time to heat up, collecting 12 hits, six for extra bases, while also notching seven runs batted in and scoring five of his own. Off the bump, Burns earned pitcher of the week by taking his first college start against University of Minnesota at Morris seven innings deep, collecting 11 strikeouts without walking a batter. His dominant start began with seven consecutive strikeouts and never stopped bearing down, allowing only two hits on the day.

Among other notable individual performances, Carter Burns, the junior starting pitcher, turned a complete game into a win with 11 strikeouts while only allowing eight baserunners against University of Wisconsin at Stout. Burns, a second team all-conference pitcher last year, looks to lead an excellent pitching staff that kept its earned run average under 3.00 throughout the trip. Senior outfielder Chris Casey backed Burn’s gem, leading the offense with a perfect 4-4 day, only a homerun short of the cycle. The team collected 13 total hits while striking out only twice.

Junior infielder Raul Shah has also found his swing early, adding power and run production to the tune of eight runs batted in to compliment three stolen bases in just as many attempts. The Maryland native started several key rallies that helped run up the score, and he looks forward to continuing the hit parade throughout the entire season.

“Offensively, we are much better than last year,” Shah said. “Our mindset is to score nonstop. We want blowouts, not to beat teams by a few runs. We have guys playing confidently to the best of their ability, consistently putting the barrel on the ball, and I don’t see that stopping throughout the season.”

This mindset was certainly on display against Knox College in an impressive rout in which the Jays tallied 16 runs. The first inning saw senior Craig Hoelzer knock two runners in with a single laced into left field before sophomore Dan Albert cracked a homerun, scoring three more for a five-run inning. Later in the game, five more innings and five more runs later, sophomore infielder Joe Conlon ripped a bases-loaded triple to cap a six run sixth.

Veteran pitcher Ed Bryner earned the win, but a combined effort of relievers Jonathan Oliveros, Michael Grewe, Ross Lazicky and Chris Casey stifled Knox to only two hits in a showcase of bullpen depth, allowing the offense to unleash its high-scoring attack.

Another offensive trio slated to make a huge impact for the offense of the Jays are infielders Conor Reynolds, Colin McCarthy and Craig Hoelzer who terrorized opposing pitchers, combining for 42 hits and 22 RBIs. Reynolds, last year’s starting shortstop and second team All-Centennial Conference, looks to add speed and consistent on-base percentage, while seniors McCarthy and Hoelzer will look to provide the pop in the center of the lineup. 

Looking ahead, Shah adds some high expectations for a team that, given its talent and work ethic, has limitless potential.

“As long as we keep grinding every day and focus on the process, not the result, we will be back on a plane heading to the World Series,” Shah said. “Obviously there are some things that we can’t control, but what we can control is our preparedness. There isn’t another team that hits as much in-season or out, and there certainly isn’t another team with as much natural talent.”