DC has just three games left on their schedule this season - Friday and Saturday (5/2 & 5/3) the Fightin' Engineers of Rose-Hulman come to town to cap the 2014 regular season. Also this weekend, the Defiance College baseball staff and athletic department will recognize the program's five seniors; Darin Waterman, Aaron Helland, Brandon Riley, Pat Masopust and Trey Trumpower.
Waterman's career numbers include a .316 batting average in 459 at-bats (third most all-time) with 34 career doubles (tied for school record), 10 home runs and 76 RBI - Darin is also fifth in hits all time at Defiance with 145. All this to go along with a career 4.97 ERA, and top five career totals in innings pitched and strikeouts (206.1 and 188, respectively).
Helland, a Defiance native and [along with Waterman] a four-year starter, already holds the career record for stolen bases at DC with 79, and sports a lifetime .257 batting average in 443 at-bats - which is good for fifth best in school history. Aaron also has the fifth most walks in program history with 66 free passes drawn.
Riley has been a three year letter-winner for the Jackets (all behind the plate), after transferring from Ohio University in the fall of 2011. Brandon's played in 45 games, starting 25 of them along the way as a battery mate for the DC pitching staff. He's collected a .226 batting average while consistently putting the ball in play - managing only 12 strikeouts in 103 total plate appearances.
Masopust, a converted catcher and now everyday first basemen for the Jackets, will exit with a .272 career average in 235 at-bats and 85 games played. Patty Baseball also boasts a .391 on-base percentage and is top ten all-time in putouts with 402.
Trumpower, a Loudonville (OH) native has been a four-year letter winner for DC - all in the outfield. And a catalyst for the culture change that Head Coach Derek Woodley has been able to establish in his seven years at the helm of the DC Baseball program.
This weekend's finale will also feature a special event; as DC Baseball has partnered with Conquer Childhood Cancer Now (CCCN), a local non-profit who's sole mission is to raise funds for donations to foundations for research and development of treatment and cure of all cancer in children. As well as raise awareness and education of childhood cancer. CCCN also provides care and assistance to [Northwest Ohio] families who have children that have been diagnosed with cancer.
The event will take place in addition to Saturday's senior festivities and will feature local children who have survived cancer - who will throw out the ceremonious first pitch. The DC Baseball team will also wear special batting practice tops sporting CCCN's logo. Food for the event will be provided by Fricker's at $5 per plate and all the day's proceeds will directly benefit the foundation.
For more information on CCCN visit their website at www.conquerchildhoodcancernow.org and to read the press release, check out the DefianceAthletics.com.
Saturday's doubleheader will be broadcast on the Yellow Jackets Sports Network; parents, family and friends of the program will be able to watch the game on Livestream. And as always, stay tuned to the Diamond's Twitter feed for pre-game lineups and post-game scores/highlights! Hope to see you at The Rutt this weekend!