FEATURE: How spring sports have coped with their new normal

MITCHELL, S.D. – The emotion of a season and a career coming to a close is something that is difficult to put into words for any athlete. But the entire Dakota Wesleyan University baseball and softball teams had to endure this emotion as it became a reality when the NAIA canceled all spring sports in early March due to COVID-19.

 For DWU softball, they were on their hottest start to a season since 2016 when they held a record of 15-9 heading into conference play. This season, the Tigers jumped out to a 4-1 start in the annual Presentation College Dome Classic, before boasting a record of 6-4 right before their trip to Tucson, Ariz.

 Multiple players were hitting their stride, including senior Alyssa Garcia who led the team with a .404 batting average, including a team-high 21 hits along with 11 RBIs and a homerun. Fellow senior Alyson VanderPol and junior Devany Farris were leading the pitching squads as they combined for five wins and 23 strikeouts. 

 However, as difficult as it is for players to hear the news of their season being cut short, it can be just as difficult for a coach to share the news with their players. As head softball coach Ed Kieff says, it was extremely disappointing for his team after the start they had.

 "The thing that is sad is all of the years of work some of our players have put in, especially the seniors and then it's all taken away from them," Kieff said. "We were expecting to have a great conference season this year as well which makes it even harder for them."

 As for the DWU baseball team, they were in the middle of one of their more unique beginnings to a season. Four games into the season, the Tigers headed to Minneapolis to take on Mayville State University to play at U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings. However, in order to play the doubleheader, the teams had to take the field at 2 a.m. The Tigers split the doubleheader to walk away with one memorable trip.

 DWU boasted the reigning Great Plains Athletic Conference Pitcher-of-the-Year from 2019 in senior Dominique Boerger. He ranked fifth nationally with 7.3 innings pitched per game, while leading the team with a 2.45 ERA and 24 strikeouts. Fellow senior pitcher Ethan Davis was finding his groove as he ranked second nationally with one total walk allowed and with 0.39 walks allowed per nine innings.

 Another senior that was impacted was senior infielder Reed Harter. The Colome, S.D., native finished his career with 43 double plays, 229 putouts and a fielding percentage of 0.954. Despite the season being cut short, Harter said that he was happy the team was able to bond during the trip to Tucson.

 "As a player, you always look forward going down to Tucson because you have nothing to worry about but baseball," Harter commented. "It was great to get that trip in because we were able to bond a lot as a team and to see what we needed to improve upon on the field. It is always the highlight of the season."

 Despite not practicing and being around each other on a daily basis, both teams are finding new ways to keep in contact with each other and ease the pain. The softball team talks daily with the GroupMe app between coaches, returning players and even players coming in next fall. The baseball squad texts each other in a group text and, as head coach John Greicar said, they reassure each other that everything will be okay.

 "Although it's been different not seeing them around campus or at the field every day, we still stay in touch in a different way," Greicar said. "It's been nice, and I think they are all making the transition as best as they can. They are a very positive group, so as a coaching staff we've been really lucky. Although they had to sacrifice their season, they see the big picture and recognize the positive impacts of everyone doing their part. These guys get it." 

 Each student-athlete has their own way of coping with what has become the new normal, and that sometimes includes reminiscing on their favorite memories from their time at DWU. As Garcia mentioned, her favorite memory was seeing her first snowfall during her freshman season. For Harter, it was the annual Tucson trip, or as VanderPol said, there are too many memories to pinpoint just one favorite. But Boerger shared a story that will stick with him for a long time to come.

 "One of my favorite memories came during my sophomore year," Boerger mentioned. "At this time I was struggling in school and in baseball, nothing was going right for me. I called my mom and told her I was coming home. Coach Hopkins talked to me and calmed me down. I was about in tears because I was ready to give up. Not long after I talked to Coach Greicar, and we talk about everything. One thing he said that sticks with me is, 'Trust the Process'. So, I stuck it out that year, went home in the summer, had knee surgery, missed most of the fall season that year and transitioned into the season. That was the best season I ever had and ended up winning GPAC Pitcher-of-the-Year. A goal that Johnny and I set after my freshmen season! When we talked in my exit meeting, he pulled out a picture frame with a piece of paper in it, and it was my grade report from sophomore year. He looked at me and said, 'I was so mad the day I saw this I crumpled it up and threw it away. I picked it out of the garbage, unwrinkled it and framed it. Before I put it away, I said I will give this to him when he wins GPAC Pitcher-of-the-Year. A year later look where we are.' That meant so much to me, trusting the process and working hard, nothing beats that memory, or this program."

 The NAIA put a new rule into place that will grant spring sport seniors another year of eligibility. Some DWU seniors have elected to return for another season, while some are choosing to move forward. No matter their choice, it is evident the impact these seniors have made on Dakota Wesleyan, which won't soon be forgotten.