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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Senior Spotlight: Andrew Habecker

On and Off the Diamond is no stranger to flipping switches, but what happens when an individual is asked to flip a switch that completely alters his role and value to his team? For an answer to this question, we turn our attention to SR Andrew Habecker. Andy who hails from Pittsford, NY is the son of former Yellow Jacket baseball player, Ron Habecker. After his first two seasons on campus, in which he racked up 25 appearances, 50 innings pitched and 2 wins all out of the Jacket bullpen - Andy was involved in a slight role change going into his junior year.

They say some things you never forget how to do, apparently in addition to riding a bike you can add swinging a bat to that list for Habecker. The 2012 season saw Andy perform not only on the mound for DC but in the field as well. Starting in 34 games at either first base or designated hitter, Andy posted a .265 batting average, 113 at-bats, 18 RBI and a .994 fielding percentage. In addition to his time at the plate, he also added 13.1 innings pitched - including one start on April 4th at Bowling Green.

Through the first 15 games of 2012 Andy was sitting pretty with a plus .300 batting average. After a mid season lull, he would go on to round out the season by hitting .400 in DC's last five games. In games that resulted in a Yellow Jacket win, Andy hit .372 and also had an on base percentage of .452 when leading off an inning. His .994 fielding percentage, which is the fifth-highest single season mark in program history, was as a result of leading the team with 169 putouts and 181 chances.

The Two-Way Specialist recently stepped On the Diamond:

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years, On the Diamond?
AH: Getting the game-winning hit against Franklin last year and sweeping Mount St. Joseph to wrap up the season (reached base safely 9 times and went 4-8 with 3 RBI in the series).

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years, Off the Diamond?
AH: Making friendships that will last me long after I've left Defiance.

OAOTD: Going into your final season, what is the biggest improvement you've made since freshman year?
AH: Both my running speed and endurance.

OAOTD: What are your expectations for the 2013 season?
AH: It's my last year, I want to see us make the conference tournament and really make a run at an HCAC title.

OAOTD: After your time at DC is up, what do you plan to do?
AH: After interning for the Rochester Red Wings (AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins) this past summer, I'd know that I'd really enjoy working for a professional sports franchise.

OAOTD: What is one life lesson that being a Defiance College baseball player has taught you?
AH: Control what you can control - attitude, concentration and effort.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

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

Senior Spotlight: Jake Taylor

Normally I don't encourage much dancing out on the mound of a baseball field, but I suppose just like every rule - there are exceptions. There has been one pitcher in specific, on the DC Baseball staff the past three seasons that has been known to cut a little rug out there during his outings. SR RHP Jake Taylor (St. Marys, OH/Memorial) possesses a crafty, dancing machine of a knuckleball in his arsenal - and isn't afraid to use it!

Since arriving on campus in the Fall of 2009, Taylor who is a Sports Management major and will graduate on time this spring, has piled up 132 innings pitched (most among active players), 71 Ks, 6 wins, and a 1.88 WHIP (BBs + Hits/IP).

With the 2012 season being his best and most impressive dance move so far, Jake set career highs in both innings pitched and wins. This includes tossing his second career complete game on March 24 against Rose-Hulman. On top of that, Taylor took advantage of sleeping in his own bed the night before a game and excelled in all his outings at The Rutt - posting a 2.78 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in all of his 2012 home appearances.

The Knuckleballer recently granted OAOTD a moment of his time:

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years, On the Diamond?
JT: Sending our senior class out right last year by sweeping Mount St. Joe in the last series of the year.

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years, Off the Diamond?
JT: Winning last year's annual Champs Night (Champs Night is a yearly competition held by DC where different teams of student-athletes face off in "unique" challenges")

OAOTD: Going into your final season, what is the biggest improvement you've made since freshman year?
JT: I learned how to actually pitch, and got away from just throwing. Developing a successful change up has also been really important to me.

OAOTD: What are your expectations for the 2013 season?
JT: I want to make the conference tournament, same as everyone else - but we as a team have to put in the work to get there.

OAOTD: After your time at DC is up, what do you plan to do?
JT: I'd really like to get into coaching, but also pursue a career pertaining to my degree.

OAOTD: What is one life lesson that being a Defiance College Baseball player has taught you?
JT: Nothing is handed to you without hard work.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

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

Senior Spotlight: Jonathon Murphy

For the past three seasons, there has been a consistent sounding of an alarm on campus, down at The Rutt - especially come game time in the spring. And no, it's not a fire alarm, or a police siren, or that dreaded alarm that tells you its time to rise and shine cause you're late to Mental Toughness. That blatant ringing sound is DC Baseball's Murph Alert!

Senior OF/UT Jonathon Murphy (@MurphAlert2) has been spotted causing havoc on the base paths and running down fly balls, most thought impossible, for three years here at Defiance. Jon's impact on a game can sometimes fly under the radar, so naturally it is needed to sound the Murph Alert every time the speedster turns something out of what is seemingly, nothing!

Yes, maybe the actual ringing of an alarm is a bit of an exaggeration, but don't count it out for this spring - I hear air horn's are pretty cheap! Murphy, a Versailles, OH native, started in 38 games as a junior last season, mostly in center field. In those games Jon ranked second on the roster (3rd in HCAC) in sacrifice bunts (10) and coupled 81 putouts (which led all DC OFs) with a couple of assists as well. He also racked up five multi-hit games, in which DC was a perfect 5-0. But Murph's most impressive stat from the 2012 campaign was his .538 on-base percentage to lead off an inning!

The Yellow Jackets' Outfield General recently granted OAOTD a few minutes of his time:

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years, On the Diamond?
JM: Sweeping Mount St. Joe last year to wrap up the season (this led to the Niners tying the 7th most wins in school history) oh and finally talking Coach [Woodley] into getting flat-bill hats for the 2012 season.

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years, Off the Diamond?
JM: Any time spent with my teammates off the field really, it has always created memories I'll never forget.

OAOTD: Going into your final season, what is the biggest improvement you've made since freshman year?
JM: My strength and my ability on play anywhere on the field that I'm needed (in the past three years Murph has also seen time at 3B and behind the dish).

OAOTD: What are your expectations for the 2013 season?
JM: Same as everyone's, make the conference tournament!

OAOTD: After your time at DC is up, what will you do?
JM: Continue onto grad school and earn a civil engineering degree (Jon is a Mathematics major and will graduate on time, this spring)

OAOTD: What is one life lesson that being a Defiance College Baseball Player has taught you?
JM: Nothing is impossible with the right attitude and enough hard work.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

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

Senior Spotlight: Aaron Patterson

On and Off the Diamond continues its look into Defiance Baseball's 2013 Senior Class, in this week's installment, we turn our sights to RHP Aaron Patterson (@i_am2seven). Aaron, a Lima, OH native and Shawnee HS Alum, is majoring in Sports Management with a minor in Business Administration and will walk in the Spring of 2013. The veteran hurler has been a fix in the Jacket bullpen since his freshman season in 2010. Patterson's career appearances (33), innings pitched (46.2), and strikeouts (30) were all highlighted by career single season marks set this past season (2012) - 14 (APP) 18.1 (IP) and 13 (Ks). The 2012 season also included five consecutive scoreless innings, in which he struck out nine and recorded a 0.82 WHIP (walks + hits/innings pitched).

The Big Bender recently took some time to sit down with OAOTD.

OAOTD: What is your best memory of Defiance College (On the Diamond)?
AP: Our sweep of Mt. St. Joseph to cap off last season. (Patterson tossed a scoreless 1 1/3 innings in this series)

OAOTD: What is your best memory of Defiance College (Off the Diamond)?
AP: The down time with the team when we were on the road, or on our [annual] spring trip in [Fort Myers] Florida.

OAOTD: Going into your final season, what is the biggest improvement you've made since freshman year?
AP: My overall philosophy on pitching. I have a plan now - on what to do for an at-bat, instead of just getting up there and throwing.

OAOTD: What are your expectations for the 2013 season?
AP: I can confidently say, I fully expect us to make the conference tournament.


OAOTD: After your time at DC is up, what do you plan to do?
AP: I plan on doing whatever it takes to find a job with a baseball organization, preferably professional.

OAOTD: What is one life lesson that being a Defiance College Baseball Player has taught you?
AP: To live in the moment, you can't take any moments off in life.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

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

Senior Spotlight: Alex Schomaeker

In a new installment of On and Off the Diamond, we highlight and recognize Defiance College Baseball's 2013 Senior Class. To kick off this new feature, we turn our attention to LHP Alex Schomaeker (Ottawa, OH/Ottawa-Glendorf). Alex, who is an Accounting major and is on target to graduate this spring - also has a younger brother, Travis, that plays basketball here at DC. Schomaeker has seen much success in between the lines for the Jacket Baseball program in recent years, ever since stepping on campus in the Fall of 2009.

This includes last year, when Alex racked up the second most saves in a single season for a Jacket Pitcher and also moved into second all-time on the career saves list. Alex followed up his 2011 campaign of 11 2/3 Innings Pitched, 10 Ks, 1-1 Win/Loss Record and an ERA of 5.40 with a stellar 2012 performance: 18 Innings Pitched, 13 Ks, 1-1 Win/Loss and a team leading ERA of 1.50. Alex has been a mainstay in the Jacket bullpen for the past two seasons and as the team's closer last year, he definitely does not shy away from the spotlight.

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years (On the Diamond)?
AS: Recording my first collegiate save - (March 27, 2012 v. Albion College)

OAOTD: What is your best memory of DC in the past three years (Off the Diamond)?
AS: The friendships I've made, just enjoying the four other baseball players I've lived with and all the great times we had.

OAOTD: Going into your final season, what is the biggest improvement you've made since freshman year?
AS: The ability to interact with my teammates and developing the drive to become a better player day in and day out.

OAOTD: What are your expectations for the 2013 season?
AS: That we will keep striding toward success and continue to lay the ground work just as the previous classes have.

OAOTD: After your time at DC is up, what do you plan to do?
AS: Become a Certified Public Accountant, after completing graduate school for either a Master in Business Administration or a Master in Accountancy.

OAOTD: What is one life lesson that being a Defiance College Baseball Player has taught you?
AS: The definition of character is doing what you are supposed to do when no one is watching.

*Stay tuned for future installments of On and Off the Diamond's Senior Spotlight throughout the fall, as OAOTD has five more players to bring to the forefront!

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