In the fall we all found out that there are a couple new guys on the team that we can trust in any situation and know they will get the job done. We recently sat down with Freshmen Utility man Aaron Schwecke, Sophomore Outfielder Austin Ridl, and Sophomore Catcher Chris Sticha. Freshmen Pitcher Sam Elliott was not able to sit down with because his agent is trying to work out a better contract.

Our first question to the guys was "What is you most memorable baseball moment?"

Schwecke - A tie between robbing a home run in the championship game of a legion tournament last summer and giving up a walk up grand slam to a future D1 player in the regional playoff in legion last summer only to eliminate them from the tournament with a walk off double off the kid who hit the grand slam off me pitching.

Ridl - My most memorable baseball memory was in the High School State Championship game in 2012 for the O'Gorman Knights. We won off a walk off hit in the bottom of the 7th after coming back 2 runs in that inning.

Sticha - Getting ejected from my conference game, during my senior year. I'm a quiet kid, who doesn't show much frustration on the field but my competitiveness took over. All my teammates claimed they were "proud" that I stood up for the team and my pitcher who was getting tight calls all night. 

Second Question "Who has been your biggest fan throughout the years/why?"

Schwecke - My biggest fans throughout the years have definitely been my dad and my brother. Both of them have provided me with years and countless hours of basically support and my brother is going to be playing his first Varsity season of baseball as a sophomore this year due to all the days of baseball we spent fooling around and practicing.

Ridl - My little brother has been my biggest fan! He has always looked up to me and I've taught him everything I know!

Sticha - My parents have been my biggest fans. They have never missed a game unless serious conflict. They understand baseball about as little as any dorky U of M alumn marching band geek Father and Blonde cheerleader would. But they have always been supoortive, no matter a few passed balls or strikeouts.

Third Question "If you could be any super hero who would it be/why?"

Schwecke - Batman. The bat mobile is sexy.

Ridl - If I could be any superhero, I would be Wolverine. Wolverine is super badass!! His skin regenerates and he has metal claws!!

Sticha - I would be batman. His stealth style of an average guy makes me want to be something great, something dark to make light. And he's a dime..

Fourth Question "A talent that a lot of people do not know about?"

Schwecke - I can hit backward half court shots like there is no tomorrow.

Ridl - I have Asian-quality ping pong skills.

Sticha - Creative ability. Whether a logo, or rhyme, project or joke.. I am always trying to connect the dots between different sources. Something creative about me: my family hosted the worlds longest wiffleball game in my backyard in 2011. We played for 48 straight. Score : 328-320

The Fifth and final question "What would be it mean to you to be named rookie of the year?"

Schwecke -  It would be awesome. I haven't been named anything since December 20, 1994 when i was named "Aaron."

Ridl - Since I started playing baseball many years ago, my one dream was to become at one point the UMN Club Baseball rookie of the year. After coming off of shoulder surgery the year before my freshman year of college, I wasn't sure how good I would be, yet I worked hard and recovered from the surgery to be able to play this year. This award would mean a lot to me and reflect the hard work I have put in this last year.

Sticha - Honestly, other dudes deserve rookie of the year as much as the other. We're all gifted enough to play ball.. And blessed to met some cool dudes.

We would like thank the guys so much for sitting down with us and answering some questions. Also we hope we can work out a contract with Sam so he will be on the field when we take on Winona State in the next week or so. As always follow us on twitter @umnclubbaseball, also you can contact us at umnclubbaseball@yahoo.com.

We cannot wait to get out there and win some games. We will take on Bethel College Tuesday April 15th. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00pm at Hargis Field right on Bethel College Campus.

-Staff-