baseball team – Houghton STAR

By Caleb Welker ('26)

Houghton University’s baseball team is scheduled to open the season with a Double Header in the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 12 p.m. and then at 3 p.m. against the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The team will then travel to Florida for the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Tournament over Winter Break.

Last season the baseball team finished in third place with a record of 19 wins and 20 losses (11 wins and 7 losses in conference play) and clinched a spot in the Empire 8 Conference Playoffs. Although the Highlanders fell short in the double-elimination tournament, they look to bounce back and work their way into the playoffs again this semester.

After ten seniors graduated last Spring 2023—including the leader in batting average (Zach Parr), the team’s ERA Leader (Hunter Kendall) and the program’s all-time stolen base leader (Jason Kauffeldt)—the Highlanders welcomed in twelve new players: ten freshmen and two transfer students.

Another addition to the team includes the new Graduate Assistant Pitching Coach Nick Pettit. Coach Pettit graduated in the Class of 2023 after four years at Covenant College in Georgia, and joined the team in Aug. of 2023. His wife, Riley Pettit is the Graduate Assistant Coach of the women’s volleyball team.

Freshman pitcher, Marshall Cummings (‘27) commented, “Coach Pettit, has brought a new sense of life and rejuvenation to the pitching staff and has helped us tap into our full potential, both mentally and physically.”

Senior Captain Chris VanCheri (‘24) noted that many upperclassmen, and even sophomores, have been stepping up into leadership roles after pivotal players graduated from the team. VanCheri pointed out that this highlights the Highlander baseball team’s ideals.

“We always say in our program that as you progress through your four years, each year you have to start putting others before yourself,” VanCheri stated.

“Nothing excites me more than taking the field with my brothers,” VanCheri expressed. “At the end of the day, we truly are a family. We have a tight-knit group that I see only getting closer as the season progresses. I’m excited for the younger guys to get their first taste of college ball, and I’m excited to see the challenges we will face and how we will overcome them.”

“Pitt-Bradford is returning off of a decent season, and we know they’re going to be competitive,” noted Senior Captain and pitcher, Ethan Cetton (‘24). “This game is going to be our first stepping stone to finding success as a team with lots of raw talent.”

Houghton lost to Pitt-Bradford (8-3) at the beginning of last season, so they look to push back and take two wins against the Panthers on Saturday. ★

This past spring break provided time for the Houghton Men’s Baseball team to embark on the 26-hour drive from campus to Florida to participate in The RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The week-long trip was an opportunity for the team to build relationships between each other and test their skills on the field. Ten games were scheduled; however one junior varsity game was rained out. A total of eight varsity games were played as well as one junior varsity game for freshman and sophomores.

Up to this point the baseball team had only participated in scrimmages. The tournament consisted of mostly northern college baseball teams and was intended to provide extra playing time for an otherwise short season. It also gives players the chance to encounter scenarios that do not surface while practicing indoors.

Having participated in the tournament two years previously, with a beginning record of 1-7, the team is excited about this year’s record of 4-4.

Pitcher and DH Seth Cornell, a junior, remarks on the team saying, “We have improved every year and it’s nice to see that we compete.”

Coach Brian Reitnour says, “The team was competitive in all the games and this gives us a look at the big picture in order to move in the right direction for the upcoming season.” Reitnour points to the two home runs and two triples by freshman Tommy Walker as just one example of the type of playing exhibited by Houghton during the tournament.

The trip involved many activities for the baseball team besides the tournament itself. Just one example was the parents’ cookout that was held for family that travelled to see the team compete. Additionally, the team held a worship service for a time of praise and testimony, spotlighting players such as Mike Kerr and Kevin Cassar in which teammates were able to see each other in a more vulnerable light. They were also able to spend time bonding during a Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins game where two home run balls were caught.

For freshman Joe Gilligan, the trip gave him just a small look at the camaraderie shared between the players. Gilligan says, “I thank my teammates for making this such a great experience.”

This season’s team consists of 12 returning players, 17 new players, and no seniors. Being such a young team means that they are “not experienced yet at such a level, but have a lot of promise,” says Reitnour.

Watching the players grow into new roles on the team, especially those who have been on the team since its start three years ago, has been exciting for Coach Reitnour. He says, “the guys teach each other academically, socially, and athletically.”

With such a team, Reitnour added that, “they play for something more than themselves, making it more meaningful individually and collectively.”