Hello college baseball fans!
What a year it was for college baseball with such an exciting finish to the College World Series in Omaha! Congrats to a rival school of the Fighting Camels, Coastal Carolina on their historic run to win it all. With that being said, I know you all are sad that the 2016 season has come and gone. As we enter into the middle of the summer, ball is still being played. For many college baseball players including myself, baseball season is year-round.
There are so many levels to baseball and that a baseball player plays at throughout his career. People know all about high school, college, minor leagues, and the major leagues. What people do not know a lot about is the college summer level which is also very important. While the summer baseball season is full of excitement and fun, it is not nearly as intense as the spring season with all of our schools. This laid-back atmosphere creates for a great time and still a very competitive season. In Holly Springs, NC, the Salamanders of the Coastal Plain League are always right in the middle of the exciting action. We did not have the start to the season we were hoping for, but the old quote says it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. We have every intention of getting hot and making a run for the title.
As I said before, the college summer league involves a lot of fun moments with your teammates that you have just met most likely for the first time. You find ways to bond on the road and between games. For the Salamanders, well, we bought a salamander. As we traveled to Morehead City to face off against the Marlins, we stopped to get some food before we arrived at the field. As we got off the bus we noticed a PetSmart in the shopping center. A few of the guys proceeded to check it out with hopes of buying this new team mascot. After some paperwork and additional purchases of a cage and food for the “mander”, we had a team pet. Xander the Mander is a big part of our team as he sits in the dugout at each of our games cheering us on. This may seem silly, and it absolutely is; however, we’re looking for Xander to bring us some second half magic in the form of more wins.
The people of Holly Springs are rallying behind this new little teammate of ours just like they rally behind us all the time. Along with the best field in the CPL, Holly Springs owns the best fans and organization in the league. I am a little biased being a two-year member of this ball club, but I truly believe it.
As with all summer leagues, they are here to bring competitive baseball to different cities and to get college baseball players prepared for their fall and spring seasons with their schools. As I play this summer, I am joined by fellow Campbell baseball player Ben Calvano. I have mentioned before how grueling the offseason is for a college athlete and how this is no different in Buies Creek, NC. This summer season will keep us in shape and polished as we play pretty much every single day. As for many like myself, this is possibly the last summer ball season of my life and will be followed by possibly my last baseball season ever in the spring. I, like many, am trying to squeeze every ounce of baseball out of me that I can and not take any time away from it. I am soaking in every moment that I can and simply trying to enjoy this great game to the fullest every day that I get to play. Yes it will keep me in shape. Yes it will keep me polished and focused on my skills. The main reason I am playing this summer, though, is that it will bring me joy.
Stay up to date with the Salamanders this summer as we make a second half run at the playoffs. Baseball season is not over – it is year-round! As always, Roll Humps and Roll ‘Ders!
Drew Butler
