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DIII baseball at its best

infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
Yesterday, Hendrix College won the SCAC baseball championship and the league's automatic berth in the dIII postseason. It is their first conference championship, in any sport. They defeated Trinity University, where our son played and is now a first year coach
To put it in perspective, in 2004, Hendrix went 4-22 and 2-17 in the SCAC's with barely enough players to fill their roster..14 I think.
In contrast, 2004 was a magical season for our son and Trinity University baseball and led to Jason being drafted.
Following that 2004, season, I received some very nice PM's from a poster on the HSBBW, DBL2THEGAP. He was a Hendrix player who graduated in 2004.
I had never met DBL.
On this site and in his PM's, DBL2THEGAP was kind and generous in his comments about playing and competing against Jason. He talked about respect and playing the game right and how he felt when Jason always treated he and his teammates with respect, no matter what the score.
In 2004/2005/2006, we continued to email, DBL2THEGAP continued to follow our son, and even went to see him when Jason played a Milb game near his home in Illinois.
Through these communications, I was impressed with the love for the game, the love for Hendrix and Hendrix baseball, that there was a true appreciation that while his team struggled, he and his teammates were treated with respect.
Through further emails, I learned DBL2THEGAP was thinking of becoming a coach at Hendrix. He provided glimpses of what he thought they could accomplish and the dream he had for others, that he had not experienced.
Well, that player, DBL2THEGAP is now an assistant coach.
His name is Neil Groat.
Yesterday, he saw his players fulfill the dream he emailed about in 2004/2005. To the credit of Neil and the Hendrix staff, they created the dream so that others could experience what they did not. They then did the recruiting and the coaching so this team could share the dream Neil helped create.
Congratulations to Neil Groat for dreaming big, for standing in your dream, for doing the work to make that dream become real, and for helping others experience what you only dreamed.
DIII baseball and college athletics at its best, in my view.

'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'

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ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
Great Post!!

I saw the Hendrix guys holding the trophy this morning on D3baseball.com. This is what it is all about imho. It is about winning and achieving a goal as a team. The best championship game that I saw last year in any sport was the last game of the D3 college world series. There were several drafted players in the game and it was obvious that baseball was being played at the very highest levels of the sport. A senior who had lost his starting role earlier in the year never let that affect his outlook. He battled, and battled, and battled pitch after pitch in an extra-inning pinch hitting assignment. On the 11th pitch I believe, he drew a walk-off walk to win the national championship. It don't get any better than that.

Congrats to Neil and the Hendrix team!
play baseballplay baseball1,000+ posts
This IS a great website, and a great story. Thanks so much for reporting this news.

We've been following this conference for a number of years, too, and remember when Hendrix struggled. I am delighted that they have totally turned things around.

Just goes to show you that "Every year is 'Anything Can Happen Year'"........when you have good coaching and players who play as a team all focused on the same outcome. Good for them.

I wish them the best.....
Last edited by play baseball
C casey75100+ posts
Great post. When my son was at the Top96 Academic East showcase in Hartford last June, the Hendrix coach was there and ended up being my son's evaluator. He did a detailed report and had a very nice and constructive one on one discussion with my son. My son was impressed with him and his positive demeanor...it's great to see nice things happen for good people.
R RPD100+ posts
Congrats to Hendrix and the SCAC -- a great conference.

My son will be playing ball for Austin College next year, another SCAC team, and home of another outstanding coach. A few months ago we drove to AC on a Saturday to watch a double-header ... and Hendrix was the opponent, so we got firsthand look at SCAC baseball. My son is pumped for next year!

Again, congrats to Hendrix.

And just curious ... is Neal Groat related to the old Pirate shortstop, Dick Groat?
KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
BSC made the switch from DI to DIII two years ago, thus their current ineligibility to contend for the championship. They might have one more year of ineligibility (or perhaps this was the last year?) and can then fully contend. Once those restrictions are cast off, look out. They also have a great coach, beautiful DI-level facilities, and a hungry squad.
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
Wayne,
BSU is in a transition from DI to DIII. As such, I believe the NCAA classifies them as a provisional DIII member. This status takes something like 3 full years.
During that interval, they cannot participate in post-season play. If I understand correctly, they have one more year in provisional status and then will be eligible for post season play in 2011.
At that point, with BSU, Millsaps, Trinity, Austin College, DePauw, Rhodes, Hendrix and Southwestern, there won't be a better level of academic and athletic excellence in all of DIII.
I'm not saying they will be the best; just saying there won't be any better. Yikes, I better mention Oglethorpe, Centre and Sewanee(University of the South) too since I didn't limit athletics to baseball.
Last edited by infielddad
WayneWayne100+ posts
That's very interesting. I appreciate both you guys taking the time to respond. I agree, their can't be a prettier field anywhere! I notice their roster is nearly all frosh and sophomores, which I assume is a result of the switch in classifications. Full disclosure, I'm secretly hoping to be a parent of a player there in a few years. Again, thanks guys for clarifying that for me.
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
Wayne,
Best wishes to your son and the hopes for him to attend and play baseball at BSU.
If that happens, he will also get to be around some of the very best college coaches. These are people known not only for their knowledge of baseball but for their love of the game, their love of the players, their respect for the student athlete, and their respect for sportsmanship.
Following my post about Hendrix and Neil, I received some emails/PM's. Through these I learned that some of the best support and guidance the Hendrix coaching staff received in achieving their turnaround came from rival coaches at the top programs, Jim Page at Millsaps and Tim Scannell at Trinity.
Again, DIII baseball...at its best.

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