Touching the Bases with Nate Eastman: The Seasons End

We didn’t finish our season the way would have liked to after we lost the last 2 games of the season to the Syracuse Junior Chiefs.  We ended up finishing the season with the record 16-24 leaving us in 9^th place for the season.  We ended up 5 games out of a playoff spot, which may sound like a lot but I can think of about ten games this season where the games could have gone either way and we just couldn’t come out on top that day.  Also I think with this summer full of rain we lost some of our rhythm in between rainouts and it was hard for us to regain some of that rhythm.

After we finished up our last games of the season, it all hit home to everyone that we were never going to play together again.  I myself got a little emotional because I truly loved showing up to the ballpark everyday to play with these guys.  After spending only seven weeks with this team, I have made some life long friends and also learned a lot of new perspectives of the game.  This was a team full of great chemistry from the last pitcher in the bullpen all the way to the best players on the team; we always had each other’s back.  I learned a lot this summer from my coaches, teammates, and even players from other teams that I look forward to using as I further my career in baseball.

Reflecting on my performance this summer, there were a lot of things wish I could have done differently, but I know have to take them as learning experiences and improve on them as I move into fall ball at a new college this up coming year.  I certainly had a rude awakening with the level of competition, and trying to adjust to this as opposed to the Division III junior college.  Overall I was satisfied with how I played this summer but I am certainly still fueled to improve in the coming years.

I was also excited to see my teammate Blaze Tom receive a scholarship to the University of Kentucky after his out standing performance this summer.  I’m sure he, along with other players on my team and in the NYCBL can play on at a higher level after college.  Who knows, maybe someday Ill be watching one of them play on TV.

It was truly an honor to play for the Silversmiths this summer.  I hope to someday wear the Smitties uniform again as a player or even coach in the near future.  These past two summers have been great learning experiences for me whether it was for the game of baseball or in life.  I hope you all enjoyed reading about my experiences this summer on the diamond.