Senior Spotlight: Ryan McLaughlin

The time has come to round out one of OAOTD's newest programs - highlighting the gentlemen that have donned the Purple and Gold for going on four years now. In order to finish up the Senior Spotlight segment we had to get the Sheriff on the phone. The last spotlight is taken up by the long arm of the law round these parts. Ryan McLaughlin is a Monroe, MI native and RHP for the Jackets. Ryan, a Criminal Justice major who graduates this May, has seen his role on the team and on the pitching staff fluctuate over recent years.

This includes the transition into a starting role for the 2012 season in which McLaughlin recorded six starts, ten appearances, two wins and 37.1 innings pitched. This marked career highs for the righty in all four of those categories. He did this while serving as the team's midweek starter and ranked fourth on the staff in wins, innings tossed and starts. In his first career start, Ryan hurled five shutout innings in a 7-2 win over Lourdes College - ultimately leading him to a 2-0 record accompanied by a 1.04 ERA and .063 WHIP in games he started that led to Yellow Jacket wins.

The Sheriff recently sat down with OAOTD for an interrogation:

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years, On the Diamond?
RM: Sweeping Mt. St. Joseph last year to finish the season and earning my first collegiate win as a starter (2012 Home Opener v. Lourdes)

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years, Off the Diamond?
RM: Having the opportunity to build relationships with the people I call my closest friends, not to mention all the road trips we take as a team.

OAOTD: Going into your final season, what is the biggest improvement you've made since freshman year?
RM: My knowledge of the game, and when you're a freshman - you're intimidated by everyone. Now I feel the intimidation factor is on my side.

OAOTD: What are your expectations for the 2013 season?
RM: To set a new career high in innings pitched and be much more dominant as a starter for us.

OAOTD: After your time at DC is up, what do you plan to do?
RM: Get into the Michigan State Police Academy, or start my job search for a career in the federal government.

OAOTD: What is one life lesson that being a Defiance College Baseball player has taught you?
RM: You need to support others, and that you (as a single person) can make an entire team or community stronger.

*Thank you for tuning in to this series of interviews - for continual updates on DC Baseball's senior class and the rest of the squad, follow OAOTD on Twitter and check in on the Defiance Athletics website!

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

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Golden Standard

It was a narrow race, went all the way down to the wire - and at the end, it was the Gold Team by a little more than a nose. Not exactly what you would call, a photo finish - going into the last practice of the fall and the last scheduled YJC games, Gold and Purple were tied with 202 points each.

With the cup on the line, Gold came out to play, plating four runs in the first inning highlighted by big hits from JR 1B Pat Masopust and SO Catcher Ian Burkhart. They would later add five more in the third and leap out to a 9-4 Game One win. SR RHP Ryan McLaughlin picked up the win as his c/o 2013 teammate LHP Alex Schomaeker tossed two scoreless and K'd 3 to round out the game.

Games 2 and 3 would see no runs scored from the Purple Team. As the Gold pitching staff would combine for a six inning shutout, led by JR RHP Darin Waterman and SO Lefty Matt Goodpaster. Gold would also get tremendous help from SO IF Joel Musser and Burkhart, as the pair would combine to go 3-6 with 3 runs scored, and 2 RBIs on Burkhart's Game Three 2 run HR.

2012 Yellow Jacket Cup Champions
Gold Team

One last congratulations to the Gold Team for hoisting the Cup!

What's the Buzz?

*OAOTD's newest installment will periodically highlight different accomplishments or make known important announcements from the world of Defiance College Baseball.

• SR Ryan McLaughlin was named the 2012 King of the Hill (#KOTH) - King of the Hill takes into factor not only YJC performance but athletic ability as well. KOTH aims to recognize  and congratulate one Yellow Jacket pitcher for standing out and excelling at his craft. This competition measures such things as:
• 1st Pitch Strike %
• 3 Ball Count %
• Less than 3 Pitches %
• K/BB
• FB Velocity
• Long Toss Distance
• Crossfit Workout Times
• Flush Run Times
• Various Agility/Speed Drills

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball