Welcome back to the Diamond! Since last you read, the Defiance College Baseball team was gearing up to kick off the 2014 season - and now is on the verge of completing it. This year has certainly seen its share of red lights, traffic jams and detours. And although, the Jackets have just eight wins on the year and have had their cliche troubles with pitching and defense - they have continued to show resilience no matter the opponent and no matter the situation.
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.
