On Friday, May 7 at 2 p.m. at Boeve Stadium, the Hope College baseball team will pay tribute to its eight graduating seniors. Since few fans are allowed at the event to recognize these student-athletes’ careers, head coach Stu Fritz honors them here.
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Cal Barrett — Hometown: Chelsea, Michigan (Chelsea HS); Major: Mechanical Engineering
“Cal is our starting catcher as a senior. He waited his turn to be behind the plate and was our DH as a junior. Cal has hit in the middle of our line-up and is a very good defensive catcher. He has a great ability to receive the baseball and a very good working relationship with our pitching staff. Cal is also involved with the Formula Race team as an engineering student.”
Evan Becker — Hometown: Rochester, Michigan (Stoney Creek HS); Major: Business
“Evan is a captain and a go-to guy in our program. He is an incredibly hard worker in the classroom and on the field. He is also one of our fastest players and best athletes. Evan is the glue that holds our team together; he’s a great teammate and a better friend. First class young man all the way around.”
Ted Eppinga — Hometown: Saline, Michigan (Saline HS); Major: Mathematics
“Teddy would have been a three-year starter at first base and a force in the middle of our line-up. He has had a nagging shoulder injury this year and has missed most of the season. He led our team in home runs as a sophomore, and we have missed his presence in our line-up this year.”
Max Gaishin — Hometown: Stevensville, Michigan (Stevensville Lakeshore HS); Major: Integrated Science Group Elementary Education
“Max is an outstanding person. He has every quality you want in a son, or your son’s, or daughter’s, teacher. This year he is one of our captains. Max has been a four-year starter on the mound for us and pitched some outstanding games. I am excited to watch Max goes out into the world as an educator.”
Evan Maday — Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Kentwood HS); Major: Civil Engineering
“Evan is a four-year starter and a two-year captain. He will go down as one of the best to play at Hope during my tenure. He has been a great leader on and off the field, a very good student and a tenacious competitor. He is a very gifted athlete and excels at a variety of tasks. Evan is our single-season and career stolen-base record holder and currently leads the nation in stolen bases. He’s a first class young man whom I have had the pleasure to coach.”
Kameron Miller — Hometown: Coldwater, Michigan (Coldwater HS); Major: Business
“Kam has been our #1 pitcher this year. His cornerstone game was a complete shutout shutout against Alma in the league tourney. He has worked tirelessly to get to the top of his game. Kam is a very bright student and has accepted an accounting job after graduation.”
Joey Merucci — Hometown: Northville Township, Michigan (Catholic Central HS); Major: Business
“Joey had a very good sophomore season as a first-year starter. He is a very driven and focused young man. He has a high baseball IQ and a level of passion for the game that we don’t see every day. Joey plays a very good third base with his biggest asset being the strength of his arm. He is also a very good leader/coordinator in our program.”
Al Vasquez — Hometown: Chelsea, Michigan (Chelsea HS); Major: Environmental Science
“Al has come back from Tommy John surgery and has had a great senior year. He has been our #2 starter. Al came to our program as a transfer and has not had much of an opportunity to compete because of COVID. We have been beyond excited to watch him his senior year. His work ethic is second-to-none.”