{"id":126282,"date":"2019-08-21T23:00:44","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T03:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/?p=126282"},"modified":"2021-01-13T12:11:06","modified_gmt":"2021-01-13T17:11:06","slug":"competition-and-friendship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2019\/08\/21\/competition-and-friendship\/","title":{"rendered":"Bobcats find competition, friendship playing summer baseball"},"content":{"rendered":"

During a recent baseball game at Nashua\u2019s historic Holman Stadium, the pitcher got the hitter to whiff on a pitch. Then, to everyone’s surprise, the pitcher did some trash talking.<\/p>\n

It was curious because the pitcher’s own team, <\/span>the<\/span> Nashua Silver Knights of the<\/span> Futures Collegiate Baseball League<\/span><\/a>, was getting thrashed by the hitter\u2019s team, the Bristol Blues, by an 11-3 score.<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason for the outburst (and the humor behind it) soon became clear: Both pitcher and hitter were Bates College baseball players and good friends.<\/p>\n

And in this case, the \u201cpitcher,\u201d Jack Arend<\/span><\/a> \u201920, is actually a catcher, the reigning NESCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. On the mound to save arms, <\/span>Arend was having fun needling his fellow Bobcat, <\/span>Christian Beal<\/span><\/a> \u201921, for missing his 75 mph \u201cfast\u201d ball.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople were like, \u2018Who the hell is this kid?\u2019\u201d Arend recalls, laughing about the memory.<\/p>\n

\"Before<\/a>

Nolan Collins ’20 prepares to pitch to batterymate Jack Arend ’20 as their Nashua Silver Knights take on the Worcester Bravehearts before a big crowd at Worcester’s Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field on Aug. 2. (Photograph by Peggy Arend)<\/p><\/div>\n

Throughout America, from Alaska to Cape Cod, dozens of summer wood-bat leagues offer college players a chance to hone their skills and have fun.<\/p>\n

Some players want professional scouts to discover them. Others are trying to improve so they can play a bigger role for their teams come spring.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
Bobcats of Summer<\/h6>\n

Jack Arend ’20, Nashua Silver Knights, Futures League
\nChristian Beal ’21, Bristol Blues, Futures League
\nNolan Collins ’20, Sanford Mainers, NECBL, & Nashua Silver Knights, Futures League
\nMiles Michaud ’20, Bristol Blues, Futures League
\nHenri Pratt ’21, Front Royal Cardinals, Valley Baseball League
\nPeter Schuldt ’21, Front Royal Cardinals, Valley Baseball League<\/p>\n

\n<\/section>\n

Last spring, Beal, Arend, and Nolan Collins<\/span><\/a> \u201920 led the Bates baseball team to a 9-3 record<\/a> in NESCAC East play, the program\u2019s best mark within the division in school history. <\/span>All three earned First Team All-NESCAC honors<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And this summer, all three played in New England\u2019s seven-team Futures Collegiate Baseball League. While less well-known than the famed Cape Cod League (which also hosted Bates players in recent years<\/span><\/a>), the Futures League, founded in 2011, is the real deal, having produced 37 MLB draft picks in 2019 alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“A lot different than the NESCAC”<\/h5>\n

As Beal is interviewed before Bristol\u2019s road game against the Brockton Rox, teammates passing by the first-base dugout at Campanelli Stadium <\/span>keep interrupting him.<\/p>\n

A pair of Bristol pitchers from NCAA Division I programs Hartford and Central Connecticut State walk by. \u201cGo Bates!\u201d says one. \u201cMust be nice to have juice, baby!\u201d<\/p>\n

It’s a reference to Beal’s first home run<\/span><\/a> of the summer, and his teammates enjoy razzing him about it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

@BatesBaseball<\/a> and current #Blue<\/a> @ChristianBeal48<\/a> hits his first HR of the season.<\/p>\n

Hey @TimAnderson7<\/a>, not bad by Beal huh?<\/p>\n

Created-PXP: @CsaundersTalent @MCHS_Baseball0<\/a> @BatesCollegeAD<\/a> @BatesSports<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/heTQZyM1Mr<\/a><\/p>\n

— Christopher Saunders (@CS_Pxp) July 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n