Titans’ Baseball Experiences Sudden Valleys of Success

Image courtesy Kodiak Creative

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Baseball seasons can be long, slow drudges, filled with an incredible amount of highs and lows.

The Illinois Wesleyan Men’s baseball team recently got their share over the last few days, losing two games to Wabash University with a score of 7-1 and 12-4, but then coming back Tuesday to beat the Knox Prairie Fire with a score of 23-4. 

“We know what we’re capable of. Obviously we’ve had some games where we scored a lot of runs. Everyone’s done their part. It’s just about trying to find a way to do that every game to put us in a position to win, “ said Senior Catcher Jared Mutter. 

“It’s contagious, especially with our lineup. We get a couple guys going, everybody else starts feeling better, it’s a great feeling when we’re all doing good in the box and seeing the ball well,” added Senior outfielder Dominic DiLello. 

Even with the wide variety of scores the team has gone through, the Titans still sit at a 9-8 record, good for fourth place out of nine teams in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. 

Mutter explains that the key to staying level headed throughout the dregs of a long season is a levelheaded mindset and a consistent approach. 

“As seniors, [DeLillo and I have]  learned, you just gotta relax, have fun while you’re playing, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You have a bad play, a bad at-bat, whatever, flip the page, you still got the next one, “ said Mutter. 

DeLillo also points to the bonds the team shares outside of baseball as a key to staying consistent throughout the season. 

“The camaraderie, the bus rides home, the bus rides there, spending time together outside of baseball is definitely huge, creating that personal connection with your teammates, building relationships that will last far through baseball is huge,” said DeLillo.  

It certainly helps that Delisle and Mutter are two of their team’s leaders. Delisle leads the team in stolen bases, with a perfect 8 stolen bases in 8 attempts, which he credits to his own mindset of trying to help the team win. 

“It’s definitely a good thing when I can swipe a bag and get in scoring position and help our team score runs,” said DeLillo. 

Mutter is the team’s leader in runs batted in with 21, which he owes to his approach as well. 

“Guys get into position to score, get on base, just gotta put the ball in play, get a run in and help put runs on the board anyway we can, “ said Mutter. 

Despite all the ups and downs, Mutter and DiLello still have a strong belief in their team’s ability and their chances at success as the season continues to move forward and the Titans begin conference play.

“Everytime we step on the field, we’re expecting to win, and that’s not gonna change the rest of the year, “ said DeLillo.

*I think we definitely know what we’re capable of, but we’re obviously flipping a page starting conference games this weekend, so we’re in a good position right now. I know we’re gonna get it rolling, “ said Mutter.