Spartan Baseball In The Dominican Republic - Daily Update
12/15/2018 10:26:00 PM | Baseball
MSU playing baseball, seeing culture and team bonding in Dominican Republic.
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BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic -- Michigan State baseball will be spending five days in the Dominican Republic from Saturday, Dec. 15 - Thursday, Dec. 20.
DAY 6 - THURSDAY, DEC. 20
Michigan State baseball started its final day in the Dominican Republic with a sunrise workout on the beach, before concluding the day returning home to East Lansing.
MSU completed its six-day tour, mixing baseball, culture and service during the Spartans' time in the Dominican Republic.
"It was an honor to have Michigan State baseball here, because they're such a great program, and then when they got here, they showed to be both a very classy team, but also a really strong team and how they fought on the field," Sam LeBeau, the Director of the Dominican Baseball Camp, said.
Muchas muchas gracias to our incredible hosts - Sam LeBeau and the staff of @Dominicanbball for an unforgettable week of baseball, culture & service in the Dominican Republic! Thanks for the lifetime of memories! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/idPcflktMC
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 20, 2018
LeBeau said that the Spartans left an extremely positive impression during their time in the Dominican.
"It's a honor to have them here. We try to show the team something good to make it a good experience for them, but when they come down and play like they did, it makes a good impression here. I got a call from one of the coaches of the Hiroshima Carp team after yesterday's game thanking me for bringing such a great team to play them. When you come down and play the game well down here, you earn a lot of respect because they have such a passion for the game."
Michigan State played well all week, going 4-1-1 in its six games.
"I'm very pleased with how we played and performed all week. To go 4-1-1 against the competition that we played I think is outstanding," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I thought we pitched extremely well, I thought we defended extremely well, with the exception of one inning Sunday and one inning Wednesday. So to play six games and really only defend poorly in two innings total in those six games, I think is impressive. Offensively, I don't think anyone knew what to expect just because we hadn't seen live pitching since the middle of October, but I thought our guys really did a nice job of competing at the plate, we got a lot of good at bats."
The Spartans left their hotel at 7 a.m. Atlantic Time (6 a.m. Eastern Time) Thursday morning with a light jog led by some of the Dominican Baseball Camp staff, ending the jog at Boca Chica Beach. There, as the sun was just coming up, they went through an hour-long workout of agility, conditioning, circuit training and flexibility, drills led by the staff that local Dominican players do every day. Coconuts were used as cones, with a row of palm trees lining the open area on one side, and the Caribbean Sea lining the other.
Aumentar y triturar Spartans!! That's how the locals would say Rise & Grind! Spartans starting off final day of @Dominicanbball tour with a sunrise workout at the beach! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/9bFhq06xI8
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 20, 2018
"It was crazy. I wasn't expecting to run that far, that quickly, and then wasn't expecting to do all these wild agility drills in the sand. I was thinking this would be a nice, mild workout on the beach, but they really put us to work and we really got after it," sophomore catcher Adam Proctor said. "We have it really easy in the States, this is their life and this is all they do. We take it easy before, but we need to really get after it."
Q: What do the sun and the heart rate of the players have in common?
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 20, 2018
A: They're both coming up!
As the sun rises over Boca Chica beach, the Spartans' workout intensifies! #AumentarYTrituarSpartans#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/4N8F7qMZHL
While it was intense, it was enjoyable, as it was a completely different experience for the players from what they're used to and what they've done in the past. Thursday's workout ended with a water workout, with them going forward and backward before sprinting out of the water and onto the beach.
Getting a little run in as part of this morning's Boca Chica beach workout - doing some work to wrap up our @Dominicanbball trip before we fly back to East Lansing! #AumentarYTrituarSpartans#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/2M9cDuEDiV
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 20, 2018
"I really enjoyed it, to wake up and start going, and then get down here to the beach, and see how they do it, and to be a part of this culture. They told us they do this everyday. It was really fun, I enjoyed the water part of the workout," freshman outfielder Casey Mayes said. "I learned that running in the sand is a lot more difficult and that will help our quickness for sure."
Some more 👀 from this morning's sunrise Boca Chica beach workout to start last day of @Dominicanbball trip before heading home today.
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 20, 2018
We had guest participant with us to help put the dog in #SpartanDawgs
🌅🏝🏃🏼#AumentarYTrituarSpartans#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/iNSmiqg0ab
Thursday's beach workout wasn't the only thing that Mayes enjoyed about the trip.
"By far, my favorite part was getting to play with a different culture. The Dominicans love the game and seeing how they play the game is really inspiring for us," Mayes said.
That's a wrap on this morning's sunrise Boca Chica beach workout as Arno of @Dominicanbball with the breakdown after leading our workout!
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 20, 2018
#SpartanDawgs
🌅🏝🏃🏼#AumentarYTrituarSpartans#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/IZLs5iZA4c
After the workout, the team returned to the hotel for breakfast, then packed up and loaded the bus for the final time and headed to the airport in Punta Cana, nearly two hours away. The team then went through Customs before boarding their flight to Baltimore, where they went through U.S. Customs for the connecting flight, which was delayed due to combination of weather and mechanical issues, before landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport at approximately 1 a.m. ET. MSU then boarded a bus bound for East Lansing, arriving on campus at 3 a.m. ET.
Nonetheless, the trip left a lasting impression on the Spartan players.
"This has been an awesome experience for me," junior infielder/outfielder Andrew Morrow said. "It's definitely something that I'll never forget. The fields and atmospheres that we've played at have been one of a kind, they've been filled with excitement and drama, and even on some of the fields that you'd never think you'd be playing on in America."
One of those fields was historic Juan Alberto Ozeria Field, where the atmosphere was perhaps one of, if not the most unique that the Spartans have ever played in, and their performance left a positive impression on the locals.
"I really enjoyed the game on the little field out behind the hotel," LeBeau said of the site of Tuesday afternoon's game. "They're out there playing, the music is playing, they're on the dirt infield, and all of a sudden, they're facing a group of players that have been on 40-man (MLB) rosters and playing at high levels of professional baseball, and they can see that 'hey, you can play this game and have fun and it doesn't have to be on a perfect field.' That was great to see the Spartans not just enjoy that atmosphere, but play so well."
Now that the trip is complete, MSU will break for the holidays, retuning to campus in early January for classes and preseason workouts, with added motivation for the upcoming season.
"This was a great experience for the team as a whole and not just about baseball. The games were great, we usually don't get fully going with practices until the middle of January, but on this trip, we were able to play and get in the swing of things so hopefully we can keep everybody rolling into the season," Chmielewski said.
Boss liked what he saw from the Spartans during the trip that they'll be able to benefit from in the 2019 season.
"We saw a lot of good things from a lot of players, and there may have been some question marks coming in, so just very, very encouraged by the entire trip, and we're excited to get the season going in February," Boss said.
Before the Spartans open the 2019 season with games in February, they host the annual First Pitch Dinner on Jan. 26. For more information on the 2019 First Pitch Dinner, call Theresa Ryan in the MSU baseball office at 517-353-0816 or email at ryant@ath.msu.edu.
DAY 5 - WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19
Michigan State baseball wrapped up its final full day of its Dominican Republic trip by playing its last game of the tour, participated in community service and capped the day with dinner by the beach, on the Spartans' last full day of the trip on Wednesday, Dec. 19.
After the game, the team returned to the hotel for a quick lunch and then reloaded the bus and journeyed to a nearby neighborhood for community service, where they painted two houses, painting siding and trim, as well as interacting with the residents and neighbor kids, striking up several games of catch and other games, after the painting.
"I think the highlight for the entire trip for me probably would be getting the chance to serve," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "On the baseball side of it, the game yesterday is an atmosphere that none of us have ever been in before, and was a lot of fun, even though we lost 1-0, we played a very good team, and guys are never going to forget that playing in that atmosphere. For me, that's the stuff that's the highlight of the trip. When you have a chance to make memories for guys, I think that's what it all about. Between yesterday on the field, and today getting a chance to walk through a neighborhood that probably most guys had never been in before, and getting a change to serve and interact with the people and the kids especially, I don't think it gets any better than that."
"That was truly a unique experience that we probably won't ever experience again."-SR Dan Chmielewski sums up MSU's @Dominicanbball community service, painting houses & interacting w/ locals... 👀highlights from @Spartan_Vision.#SpartansGive #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/7JCHBhYTHn
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 20, 2018
The experience didn't just leave an ever-lasting mark with the Spartans' head coach, but the players as well.
"It was a fun experience. I think everyone enjoyed it. That was truly a unique experience that we probably won't ever experience again. It was a little bit of an eye opener to see how people live down here, and was great to interact with the residents and the kids while we were doing it. I think they had a lot of fun and I know we had a lot of fun. I'd love to do it again," senior outfielder Dan Chmielewski said.
Honored to spend this afternoon giving back to the Boca Chica community and painted some local houses as community service portion of our @Dominicanbball trip. #SpartansGive #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/QIeGqnqNKa
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 19, 2018
Wednesday's community service made a deep impression and served invaluable lessons to the Spartans.
"It was definitely eye-opening, but definitely a blast," junior infielder/outfielder Andrew Morrow said. "We got to interact with some local people who were having just as much fun as we were, and they made it a lot more enjoyable than we had thought going into it. Seeing their way of life, just how simple it is, it was very humbling and brings things into perspective."
The day ended with dinner at the hotel's restaurant on the beach, and then the final mental skills session with David Franco, a mental skills coach with the Seattle Mariners organization.
"This whole week he's been giving us lots of tips and helpful stories from big leaguers, just all kinds of tips and tricks that he's found along his path around baseball, and come across from other people's paths," Morrow said. In baseball it's more mental than anything the further up you go, so any advantage you can get mentally, the better it is. Hopefully we can all adopt some of the philosophies that he's been teaching us and we'll be better in the spring."
Franco was in attendance at the Spartans' games, spending time with the players, and asking each other questions to boost their mental skills, which will boost their baseball skills.
"This has been a really cool experience, I've known Coach Boss for awhile," said Franco, who played baseball at Miami (Ohio) and faced an Eastern Michigan team with MSU Coach Boss as an assistant coach in 2003. "Obviously, I didn't know any of the current players or other coaches, but it's been fun getting to know them and seeing them play against some great competition down here, and get to know them on the personal level and on the mental skills level. It's been fun to see the environments that they've played in and it's a pretty cool culture here. I've had some friends that played down here that told me a lot about it, but it's been really fun to be in the middle of it and see it first-hand myself."
By far, our sessions at night have been the highlights of the tour, just getting the guys together after some excited and long days, and just talking with them. Tonight we circled up our chairs right on the beach, which is a pretty cool environment to have a mental skills talk, and just being able to dig deep and work through some things that might be holding the guys back on the mental side and give them some tools and some awareness to get closer to being the best versions of themselves on the baseball field, which ultimately leads to them being better versions of themselves off the field as well."
Franco's time with the Spartans was impactful to the players.
"I think that baseball is such a mental game and he changed the perspective a little bit of both hitting and playing as a whole," Chmielewski said. "There's a lot of times that you need to control your emotions and sometimes its hard to find a way to do that when everything happens so fast. I think he gave us a way to slow down and reflect on how to gather yourself, especially when it's such a short time period between pitch to pitch. I think it was definitely something that a lot of guys can use, I think it showed from after talking to him how our numbers improved in these last couple games of the week."
Buenos días Spartan fans!!
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 19, 2018
MSU is loading the bus and headed to it's final game of @Dominicanbball trip! Adam Proctor is checking in to make sure you're all awake this morning and ready for some Spartan béisbol! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/rqTUY88gw9
The Spartans have arrived at Hiroshima Toyo Carp Baseball Academy for today's game vs the Carp Academy in MSU's final game of the @Dominicanbball trip. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/pKQfC3JdMI
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 19, 2018
MSU started the day by again traveling East from Boca Chica to San Pedro de Macoris, to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp Baseball Academy campus to take on the Carp's team of Dominican Republic players, featuring players who have played in either Major League Baseball professional or Japanese League organizations. In a back-and-forth battle, the Spartans beat the Carp, 8-5, marking the first time that an American team has defeated the Carp as part of the Dominican Baseball Camp group, for the second win doing so on the trip, also defeating the DR Navy team for the first time by an American team. MSU finished the six-game tour with a 4-1-1 record.
Ir Verde! Ir Blanco! 👀highlights from @Spartan_Vision of MSU's 8-5 win over Hiroshima Toyo Carp Academy in last game of MSU's Dominican Republic tour, marking 1st time that an American team beat the Carp as part of @Dominicanbball group.#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/hJEmGQJBEr
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 20, 2018
In the final game of the trip, the Spartans opened with an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, before the Carp countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-1 advantage. MSU didn't trail for long, erupting for five runs in the top of the seventh to lead 6-2. The Carp closed to 6-5 with a three-run eighth, but junior reliever Caleb Sleeman got out of a bases-loaded one-out jam with a strikeout and then a lineout to third. Michigan State tacked on two runs in the top of the ninth and Sleeman retired the Carp in order in the ninth, getting two strikeouts and a ground out to secure the victory for MSU.
Victoria para MSU! Michigan State ends @Dominicanbball tour w/ 8-5 win over Hiroshima Toyo Carp Baseball Academy, which had several MLB & Japanese League prospects on roster. Coach @BossJake & the Spartans go 4-1-1 in their 6 games in the DR. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/DoVwBXK3tt
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 19, 2018
"I thought we played well today, we kind of kicked it around in one inning today, but we really played well aside from the one inning today, against a very good team. They had a lot of older guys, and lots that have played professional baseball, and we got a lead early, but then kind of let them back in it, and then showed a lot of character in answering the bell when we needed to and I thought we pitched extremely well and got some timely hits when we need them, and took advantage of some opportunities," Boss said.
Junior infielder Justin Antoncic had a single and a double, scoring the Spartans' first run of the game. Chmielewski had an RBI single to right in the seventh to spark the rally and added an RBI double in the ninth. Freshmen outfielders Zaid Walker and Casey Mayes, along with senior catcher Nic Lacayo all added a hit apiece, with Walker and Lacayo rapping singles, while Mayes belted a triple to left with the bases loaded for three of MSU's five-run seventh.
Junior Mike Mokma started, before giving way to sophomore Mason Erla, who was followed by junior Jarret Olson and freshman Colten Panaranto before Sleeman closed it out.
After dinner, the team had their third mental skills session with David Franco, a mental skills coach with the Seattle Mariners organization, splitting up with pitchers and hitters.
MSU wraps up its trip with a workout on the beach Thursday morning before heading home to East Lansing.
Updates and trip recaps of the Spartans' activities on their trip will be shared on @statebaseball and @Dominicanbball on Twitter, as well as Michigan State Baseball and Dominican Baseball Camp on Facebook.
DAY 4 - TUESDAY, DEC. 18
Michigan State baseball played not one but two games on Tuesday, Dec. 18 as part of its action in the Dominican Republic, and they had completely contrasting styles of competition and environment.
The Spartans opened the day heading East from Boca Chica to San Pedro de Macoris, to the Paulino Baseball Academy, a fairly new campus with nicely maintained fields with lush grass infield and outfield, and with roughly 40-50 fans, mostly youth players. MSU took on Paulino Academy, a program of young players who have either just been signed by professional teams or are about to be signed. After an early pitchers' duel, MSU broke it open with a five-run fifth inning and went on to win, 16-3.
After the day's first game, the team returned to its hotel in Boca Chica for a quick lunch, then went across the street to historic Juan Alberto Ozeria Field, where the atmosphere was perhaps one of, if not the most unique that the Spartans have ever played in. MSU took on LBL Caribe Blue, featuring numerous players, including its entire starting nine that were players already in Major League Baseball organizations, anywhere from AA to Rookie Level. The Spartans battled tough in the seven-inning contest, playing to a 0-0 tie until LBL Caribe Blue pushed across a run in the bottom of the sixth to win, 1-0.
Highlights from @Spartan_Vision of today's amazing atmosphere at historic Juan Alberto Ozeria Field! Truly a unique experience on our @Dominicanbball trip! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/T7oAJIGciO
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 19, 2018
Just a glimpse of the atmosphere at Juan Alberto Ozeria Field today! Fun times had by all as part of a memorable @Dominicanbball trip! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/vGuNJrBp4J
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
Two local announcers commentated throughout the game. They not only gave information, stats and facts about both teams and the local player, they mixed in calling the action, boosted throughout the stadium by loud speakers that blared upbeat, booming Dominican music in between innings. Spirited fans were not only crowded behind the backstop, but around the entire stadium, with some sitting on the wall and feet hanging over the field, on the porches and rooftops of the buildings surrounding the field along with on top of the dugouts.
Junior pitcher Indigo Diaz started on the mound, firing a pair of strikeouts in his two innings of work and stymieing the LBL Caribe Blue bats, getting applause of admiration from the fans and announcers.
"It was a really cool atmosphere. We don't really get to see a lot of stuff like that back home, so seeing how passionate the fans were and even if the field wasn't very good condition, it was just such a really cool atmosphere," Diaz said. "I don't think I've ever had the announcer commentate the entire time while you're pitching, just loud and right there in your ear, but it was really cool and really fun."
Despite numerous opportunities, the Spartans were unable to score. Meanwhile, the MSU defense was stellar, with junior left fielder Bryce Kelley snaring a couple line drives.
"Like I told everyone in the dugout, that was definitely the wildest and weirdest atmosphere I've ever played in. You show up to the field and it's an all-dirt infield with people all around, and there were kids crawling around in the outfield, but it was a really fun time overall," Kelley said. "It was the first time we've ever had a PA announcer talking during the entire game, so it was tough to block it out but it was a very unique opportunity and totally made it worth it overall, it was very fun. I'll never forget the kids crawling around in the outfield, that was just wild."
The fancy glove work also included nice plays by senior shortstop Marty Bechina and freshman second baseman Reece Trahey. The defense was anchored by solid pitching from senior reliever Evan Flohr, sophomore Zach Iverson and junior Mitchell Tyranski.
We have not one but two announcers for today's game - the first time of our @Dominicanbball trip that we've had a PA... here's the Spartans' lineup changes in the top of the 6th by PA Eduardo Jesús.
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
MSU 0
LBL 1
Headed to top of 7th. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/Rs9rpCq2CK
"Playing in that atmosphere today was definitely something I've never done before and maybe never will again. The energy was definitely something different and the passion was completely there," Trahey said. "I think it made the game easier to play today and more relaxed, the game just came to you. It was just a great experience. Playing in front of those fans was incredible, with everything with the culture of that environment today."
National anthems of both the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 & the United States 🇺🇸 complete - time to play ball at Ozeria Field for this afternoon's game beteeen the Spartans & LBL as part of our @Dominicanbball trip! Honored to represent USA! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/rOoCQuDCPz
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
In the opening game, junior infielder/outfielder Justin Antoncic had a two-run triple in the third to start the MSU scoring on the day, then led off the fifth with an inside-the-park home run. Redshirt-freshman catcher Scott Combs rapped a double and a single to go with two walks, including one with the bases loaded to finish with three walks. Freshman outfielder Casey Mayes had three singles with a pair of RBI.
Es una hermosa mañana para béisbol! We're underway at Paulino Baseball Academy Field vs Paulino Academy in the first of two games today for the Spartans as part of our @Dominicanbball trip!#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/5fLZIuxJo8
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
6 innings in the books:
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
MSU 10
Paulino Academy 0
Spartans bat around and hang a cinco spot, with Antoncic sparking the 5-run frame with an inside the park HR.
Spartans have really going in 7th after single by Mayes. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/P84Yh49cgy
On the mound, sophomore Jesse Heikkinen started and fired six strikeouts through three innings, including striking out the side in the third. Freshman Brian Martin, redshirt sophomore Zac Bianucci and freshman William Christophersen followed with solid outings, preserving the victory for MSU.
Buenos días Spartan fans!! Es una hermosa mañana para béisbol! MSU has arrived at Paulino Academy Fields in prep for today's first of two - playing Paulino Academy this morning in San Pedro de Macoris as part of @Dominicanbball trip! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/EvbQmJ1TBi
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
After dinner, the team had their second mental skills session with David Franco, a mental skills coach with the Seattle Mariners organization, splitting up with pitchers and hitters.
"I thought tonight was very interesting and I got a lot out of it," Diaz said. "One of the main things that he really went over was what he calls 'the 15-second funnel,' which is what we do in the 15 seconds in between pitches. I think really being able to break that down and understand what I can do in that in that time to make me more successful is really, really helpful."
Wednesday's activities include the Spartans' final trip of their Dominican Republic trip in the morning, followed by community service in the afternoon and the day ends with dinner on the beach.
Updates from the Spartans' activities on their trip will be shared on @statebaseball and @Dominicanbball on Twitter, as well as Michigan State Baseball and Dominican Baseball Camp on Facebook.
DAY 3 - MONDAY, DEC. 17
The day started with split squad action, with half the team taking on the Dominican Republic Navy team at the DR Naval Academy Field near Santa Domingo, while the other half was in a different area of Santa Domingo playing at Unphu Field.
MSU's half that played the Navy had a daunting task ahead of it, as the DR Navy Team hadn't ever lost to a college team from the United States as part of the Dominican Baseball Camp and had only one tie.
Before the game, the umpires & the DR Navy team manager go over the field and ground rules here at the DR Naval Academy Field with Coach Van Ameyde @MSUpitching before MSU's 2nd game of @Dominicanbball trip. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/bo8rNhRVeb
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 17, 2018
Junior infielder/outfielder Andrew Morrow started and ended the Spartans' scoring, belting a home run to deep centerfield to lead off the top of the third in his first at bat during MSU's Dominican Republic trip and his first game-like action since the Green & White World Series in mid-October.
"It felt great, it's always good when you're able to put one out and it's even better when it's down here and you haven't seen a live at bat since the end of fall ball," Morrow said. "It's always fun to be the guy that helps the team win it at the end, and today I was fortunate enough to be the one, so I'm glad to help out to get a win."
Morrow also had two-out infield hit in the top of the ninth to start the play before an error by the DR Navy team led to sophomore infielder Zach Iverson scoring the game-winning run after sparking the rally with a one-out single to right, and motoring all the way around the bases for the run.
The DR Navy team didn't give up their unbeaten record to a United States college team easy, as they threatened in the bottom of the ninth, with a leadoff single, followed by a stolen base, then a single to right, but senior right fielder Dan Chmielewski threw out the runner trying to score the tying run for the first out of the frame. After a flyout for the second out of the inning, a walk put two on, and the runner on first moved up to second. Junior pitcher Caleb Sleeman then battled the next hitter and induced a groundout to senior shortstop Marty Bechina, who threw to Morrow at first in a bang-bang play to end the game, and snap the DR Navy's unbeaten mark against an American college team.
Victory For MSU! The Spartans split squad defeats the Dominican Republic Navy team 🇩🇴 3-2 getting groundball to end it w/ two-on. MSU becomes first team from United States to beat the DR Navy team as part of @Dominicanbball. #VictoryForMSU#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/2J8a1Hgi8c
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 17, 2018
"It's definitely something special, and something like that doesn't happen very often. We knew about that coming into the game, so from the beginning on, we were extra motivated to try and be the team that beat them," Morrow said.
Along with Morrow, Bechina had two hits and a run scored, while junior infielder/outfielder Justin Antoncic, junior outfielder Bryce Kelley and Chmielewski rounded out the Spartans' seven hits in the game.
On the mound, sophomore Mason Erla started and went 2.2 innings with four Ks and no hits, while junior Mike Mokma, freshman Colten Panaranto and Sleeman had solid outings.
The Spartans were honored to have a special guest in attendance at the game, as Admiral Cambero of the Dominican Republic Navy, watched the action, and posed for photos with the MSU team after the game.
Honored to have Admiral Cambero of the Dominican Republic Navy 🇩🇴 in attendance at our game today vs the DR Navy team as part of our @Dominicanbball trip!#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/YMMHjgHwyy
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 17, 2018
The Spartans had split squad action today, with 1/2 the team taking on Dominican Republic Navy team, winning 3-2 as part of MSU's @Dominicanbball trip. Here's some highlights of the #VictoryForMSU from @Spartan_Vision ⬇️
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/haKguOGlCi
In the other half of the Spartans' split squad action, sophomore infielder Joe Stewart was a home run shy of the cycle, while freshman outfielder Casey Mayes belted a grand slam home run in the fifth, as MSU scored two in the first, three in the third and fourth and the four-spot in the fifth.
Split squad update from other 1/2 of Spartans:
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 17, 2018
MSU 5
Tabaqueros 1
Stewart with a double and a triple. Heikkinen and Christophersen pitching as part of MSU's day 2 of action at @Dominicanbball. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR
"It was good when we split squads. We had a lot of the younger players on the roster with us, so it was good for them to get experience and when they got in early, we got things going and drive in some runs and get the offense going," Stewart said. "That just seemed to get everyone going and once we got used to the timing of the pitching and everything, we took off offensively and found their stride offensively and kept it going throughout the game."
Redshirt-freshman infielder Brendan Regan rapped a single and a double and freshman outfielder Zaid Walker tallied two singles, while redshirt-freshman infielder Peter Ahn, freshman infielder/outfielder Reese Trahey and freshman outfielder/pitcher Brian Martin all added singles for the Spartans.
Sophomore Jesse Heikkinen started on the mound, and was followed by freshman William Christophersen, sophomore Zach Bianucci, Martin and junior Jarret Olson in quieting the Dominican Republic's bats.
The Spartans capped the day by attending a Dominican Winter League game between Toros del Este and Estrellas de Oriente at Estadio Tetelo Vargas En San Pedro de Marcos. The home team, Estrellas, won the game, 4-3, in a match-up of teams featuring several players with Major League Baseball experience, including Hunter Pence, formerly of the San Francisco Giants.
Tonight's activity is attending a Dominican Winter League game between Toros del Este & Estrellas de Oriente as part of our @Dominicanbball trip. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/XIfBfBJVQZ
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
"It was pretty cool. I don't think any of us really expected the kind of baseball we were going to get. We knew it would a lot of guys that are playing professionally or going to be pros, but it definitely felt like we were at a big league game, and Hunter Pence was playing so that was cool to see him. Obviously the fans are very passionate and I think the quality of baseball was pretty impressive, I think that was the coolest part about it."
MSU sat together in the stands, taking in all the entertainment, including two of the team's managers, Matt Grisdale and Eric Behan, being chosen for an on-field promotion between innings, along with enjoying some Dominican Republic ballpark food and other team bonding.
Two of our @statemanagers were selected for an on field contest, with @mattgrisdale edging @EricBehan2 by juuuust a hair!! They got a rousing applause from the crowd and the team! Just part of the fun of the @Dominicanbball trip! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/tVoJX8XUKA
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 18, 2018
"My favorite part was hanging out with all of the guys, it's definitely a different atmosphere down here, compared to pro games, or minor league games, or anything else back home," Morrow said. "It was cool to experience this unique opportunity together with my teammates."
We had a blast tonight at a Dominican Winter League game between Toros del Este & Estrellas de Oriente as part of our @Dominicanbball trip. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/E27tGJL4bk
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 17, 2018
Tuesday's action features a doubleheader of action, with the Spartans playing two games.
Updates from the Spartans' activities on their trip will be shared on @statebaseball and @Dominicanbball on Twitter, as well as Michigan State Baseball and Dominican Baseball Camp on Facebook.
DAY 2 - SUNDAY, DEC. 16
Michigan State baseball had an active first full day of action in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, Dec. 16.
Coach @BossJake and the manager of the Dominican Republic Air Force 🇩🇴 team talk with Sam of @Dominicanbball before today's first game. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR #BaseballIsAUniversalLanguage pic.twitter.com/F2ihDd5zon
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 16, 2018
The Spartans opened the day with their first game of the trip in the morning, taking on the Dominican Republic Air Force at Pimental Academy Field and playing to a 5-5 tie. MSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead, boosted by a three-run top of the third, betting an RBI double from junior infielder Justin Antoncic, and RBI single by junior outfielder Bryce Kelley and an RBI double by senior infielder Marty Bechina. MSU added two more runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from junior outfielder Danny Gleaves and another RBI double by Antoncic.
Junior pitcher Indigo Diaz started and fired 2.0 innings with three strikeouts and only one hit. Senior Evan Flohr also chalked up 2.0 innings, not yielding a hit and striking out two, while not allowing a hit. Sophomore Zach Iverson, junior Mitchell Tyranski, junior Caleb Sleeman and junior Jarret Olson also saw action on the mound.
The Dominican Republic Air Force team rallied with a run in the sixth, followed by four in the seventh to tie it. However, the Spartans tightened up and didn't allow the go-ahead run, getting out of the jam in the seventh, then ended the game catching a potential runner trying to steal home. The game ended in a 5-5 tie because of time restraints.
FINAL: Spartans and Dominican Republic Air Force 🇩🇴 team played to a 5-5 tie in the opening game at @Dominicanbball! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/fLZviveAgA
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 16, 2018
The Spartans opened their action as part of their @Dominicanbball trip by playing the Dominican Republic Air Force team this morning and playing to a 5-5 tie. Here's some highlights from @Spartan_Vision of some of today's action.#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/XGi0Wq6TLh
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 17, 2018
"I was pleased with how the guys competed today. I think we were excited to play," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "We did a lot of good things, just had one tough inning, but if you play well in eight of the nine innings, overall, for not having been together as a team for nearly two months, I thought it was a good day."
After the game, MSU returned to the hotel for lunch, dining on Dominican Republic cuisine, then departed in the afternoon for a tour of colonial Santa Domingo, known as Ciudad Colonial. The team got a tour of Fort Ozama, one of the first settlements and the oldest fort of the Americas, later home to Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus. It was declared a World Heritage Site. The team continued its tour of Ciudad Colonial, seeing Alcazar de Colon and Cathedral de Santa Maria la Menor.
The 👀 view from our bus on the way to our tour of colonial Santa Domingo as part of our @Dominicanbball tour. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/0wZaZ7XXy6
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 16, 2018
Had an amazing tour of Fort Ozama and colonial Santa Domingo as part of our Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 trip with @Dominicanbball! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/Opxazsn1dg
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 16, 2018
Also part of today's activities of @Dominicanbball trip, the Spartans went on a tour of colonial Santa Domingo, known as Ciudad Colonial, including a tour of Fort Ozama, the oldest fort of the Americas. 👀some highlights from @Spartan_Vision#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/oPLW4lcmqU
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 17, 2018
"One of the main reasons that we wanted to come down here was to give our guys the experience of seeing another culture and seeing some history," Boss said. "For a lot of our guys, this is their first time out of the country, so to get a chance to see buildings that are over 500 years old and hear stories how they were the first buildings and streets in the Americas is a really important educational piece for our guys as we get to experience this down here."
After our tour of Fort Ozama we continued our colonial Santa Domingo tour in Columbus Square. We're honored & appreciative to have @MSU_Athletics Director Bill Beekman as well as several @SpartanFund donors on our @Dominicanbball trip with us!#GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/vbL3I6USM5
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 16, 2018
Upon returning to the hotel, the Spartans had more DR cuisine for dinner and then had a mental skills session with David Franco, a mental skills coach with the Seattle Mariners organization.
"I think it's something that we've addressed for the last couple years and for those guys to hear Franco come in and really kind of give them an idea of what they do at the professional level is really important. The mental side of the game is extremely important and it's not to be overlooked and the fact that he works with pro guys that are undrafted and guys that are first-round draft picks and anywhere in between, and guys that make baseball their life and livelihood and their job, and understanding that if it's important for them, it's important for us as well," Boss said.
Thanks to @FrancosMindset for the mental skills session tonight as part of our tour with @Dominicanbball! #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/IWX7f5nMtR
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 17, 2018
Monday's action includes a split squad game, with part of the team taking on a team from the Dominican Republic Navy, while another team taking on Tabaqueros. MSU will then have some time at the beach in the afternoon, before attending a Dominican Republic Winter League game in the evening.
Follow along with the Spartans' adventures with daily updates here on www.MSUSpartans.com, as well as @statebaseball on Twitter, as well as Michigan State Baseball and Dominican Baseball Camp on Facebook.
DAY 1 - SATURDAY, DEC. 15
MSU began the day by boarding the bus at Jenison Field House with a 4 a.m. ET departure to the Detroit Metro Airport. The Spartans flew from Detroit to Chicago O'Hare, then boarded their flight to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Good morning Spartans! We made it to the airport... here we go! Off to the Dominican Republic!
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 15, 2018
✈️ ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/bCXzyW4KRA
Upon arrival in Punta Cana at approximately 3:30 p.m. Atlantic Time Zone (one hour ahead of Eastern Time), the Spartans then took an hour-and-a-half bus trip from Punta Cana to Boca Chica, where they were greeted by not only Michigan State-themed decorations, but some local music and dancers as well.
We were greeted by some local music and dancers tonight upon our arrival at our hotel. Thanks to @Dominicanbball for the awesome welcome! Tomorrow is our first game on the Dominican Republic trip. #GoGreen ⚾🇺🇸⚾🇩🇴 #SpartansInTheDR pic.twitter.com/ypqGhcBWW4
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) December 16, 2018
After checking into their rooms, the team had an orientation meeting with Sam LeBeau, Director of the Dominican Baseball Camp. Following the meeting, the team ate dinner, with several players experiencing Dominican Republic food for the first time.
Sunday's agenda includes the Spartans first game of the trip in the morning, before getting a tour of the area.
Updates from the trip will be shared on @statebaseball on Twitter, as well as Michigan State Baseball and Dominican Baseball Camp on Facebook.
