Spring is finally once again upon us, and that means baseball is back.
Opening week baseball at the Mount was rather successful, as they swept Otterbein University. I had the chance to speak with star shortstop Ethan Mason during practice.
As we spoke, the mesmerizing sound of metal bats crushing baseballs was present in the Centennial Fieldhouse. We began by discussing both baseball and academics. I wanted to know how schooling has impacted his playing. He talked about how easy the instructors here at the Mount make it for athletes. He also said that he’s able to take more courses in the fall, once baseball is over, and take fewer classes in the spring, and that balancing school and baseball sometimes means working on homework on the bus.
“It’s trying to get it in whenever you can,” he said.
I wanted to know how baseball at the college level is different from high school baseball. Mason described a new ballgame, with faster pitch speeds and even more skilled players. Despite this, it’s still the game he grew up playing. It’s still the game of baseball he’s played for his entire life. He described learning to adapt to these new struggles.
“You know,” he stated, “you can adapt pretty quickly if you know what you need to do to do the right things.”
I also wanted to know about the routines or rituals he has before he even steps onto the field. The bus seems like a very important space for him. That’s where he gets “locked in.” It’s where he gets in the headspace to play ball, and where he makes sure his teammates are in the headspace that they need to be in.
He just makes sure he’s in a good mood and prepares for the game.