Germantown, N.Y. native senior Dean Ruzich has been playing baseball since the age of three.
After being given a ball and a glove by his dad, he said he instantly fell in love with the game and knew it was something he wanted to be a part of.
“Baseball has really helped me learn to collaborate and work with other people. Everyday you’re coming together for a common goal. It’s something that a lot of people search for but are never able to do,” Ruzich said.
When asked about the teams’ goals for the season, Ruzich had a quick and short answer: “make the playoffs.” After not qualifying for the Little East Conference (LEC) playoffs in his previous three years, Ruzich and the Owls are motivated to get over that hump.
Head coach Justin Blood, who is entering his second season as the Owls’ skipper, said he believes that Ruzich will play a key role in helping Keene State take that next step. “Dean is a competitor, wants the baseball in big spots. He’s always looking for ways to help the program, whether he’s on the field or not,” said Blood.
This year’s team will feature many new faces, with 20 first-year students joining the team, making up half of the roster. With such a young team, it’s even more crucial to choose the right leaders for them to look up to, Blood said.
“Dean was chosen to represent our program because of the way he goes about his business. He has great attention to detail, cares about his teammates, works incredibly hard and has a great energy/presence about him,” said Blood.
Ruzich noted that he hopes to not only help his teammates on the field, but also hopes to impart some of the wisdom he has gained throughout his years of experience on them. “[They] need to enjoy it, it goes by quick. You blink and it’s gone, make the most of it while you can,” said Ruzich.
Not only do the younger players look to him for guidance, the upperclassmen do as well. Roommate and senior outfielder Nate Hudson said he looks up to Ruzich and sees him as an ideal teammate. “He’s one of those guys you always know will have your back through thick or thin,” Hudson said. “[He] brings experience and leadership to our team, also as a senior pitcher he knows the game very well which helps himself and the team in being successful.”
Keene State will begin its season with a trip to New York on March 4 against Farmingdale State College for a doubleheader.
Cal Thompson can be contacted at
cthompson@kscequinox.com
