You would not know it from the recent cold spell across the northland, but spring is right around the corner. There is no truer sign of this than on Feb. 9 when the Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training. The same holds true for the Hamline University Baseball team as they get ready to start their 2025 season on Feb. 16.
Looking to improve off a 15–24 season last year, the Pipers come into this year with a completely fresh attitude.
“I know that there are a lot of teams that are always saying “this is our year”, but this year I truly believe that we have the pieces to do that, all we need to do is perform how we all know we can perform and we can go toe to toe with any team out there, and just looking forward to all of the fun we are going to have on and off the field,” sophomore pitcher Hans Christensen V said via email.
During the offseason, the Pipers found an optimal mix of honing their skills on the field and staying active both individually, and as a team. Senior pitcher Parker Leipzig highlighted what he individually focused on to improve his game for the upcoming season.
“Working through visualization and positive self-talk is key for me, so reminding myself of these things in practice helps it transcend it into games,” Leipzig said via email.
Senior pitcher and outfielder Finn Melchior touched on what the team focused on collectively to better themselves over the offseason.
“Areas of the game such as baserunning, bunt situations and hitting approach are all things we work on that require extreme focus and attention to detail. Mastering these areas is important for any disciplined team, and can help us win games,” Melchior said via email.
While the team dedicated lots of time to fine-tuning their skills, they also dedicated time to staying well connected with each other.
“A lot of guys enjoy hitting the golf course during the offseason, but to be honest, my golf swing is absolutely horrendous, so I tend to sit that one out. However, many of the guys love spending time on the range and getting in their rounds. It’s a great way for them to unwind while staying active and bonding outside of baseball,” Christensen V said.
Moving into the start of the season, the Pipers are gearing up and getting ready to take on the season, especially preparing for some big competitors.
“Our early season games against Buena Vista are always a good challenge as they’re one of the best teams in our region. We are also looking forward to our annual trip to Arizona over spring break. We will play seven games down there against good competition to help prepare us for conference play,” Head Coach Jim Weyandt said via email.
The Pipers are planning to give the season their all as they hope to achieve several goals and enjoy one of the nation’s oldest sports.
“Our goal as a team every year is to finish in the top four of the conference, which secures our spot in the MIAC playoff tournament. Last year the quality of our team was not reflected in our record, as we lost many close games. This year we are returning the majority of our starting lineup with lots of young talent. We are very optimistic about our ability to compete, and I personally think this is the best we have looked in my four years here,” Melchior said.
The Pipers play all their home games at the state of the art CHS Field in Saint Paul, MN, also home to the Saints, a minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team hopes for a high turnout from students. “CHS is a wonderful place to watch games, we would love to see you come out to CHS and watch some good MIAC baseball this Spring,” Weyandt said.