SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Summer and baseball have always seemed to fit together perfectly. For fans of the game, summer is a time to enjoy the sights, sounds and atmosphere of America's pastime. For college baseball players, it is a time for development. In summer 2015, 15 Santa Clara baseball players are competing for 12 different teams from the Bay Area to New England. The "All Summer Long" series, in its fifth season, chronicles these Broncos as they play in various summer leagues nationwide.
Joe Becht had a standout freshman season for Bronco baseball in 2015. The Downers Grove, Ill. native was Santa Clara's starting second baseman on opening day and made 29 starts during the year. He hit .273 over his last 20 games, which included a walkoff, RBI single against the Stanford Cardinal April 14 at Schott Stadium.
In 26 games with the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League's Southern Ohio Copperheads, Becht is hitting .273 with 10 RBIs, 21 runs scored and 19 walks. Southern Ohio defeated Northern Ohio 6-5 Thursday night to clinch the team's seventh straight playoff berth. SantaClaraBroncos.com caught up with Becht to talk about playing summer ball close to home and taking the field against fellow Bronco teammates in the GLSCL.
Joe Becht – Southern Ohio Copperheads – Athens, Ohio
SantaClaraBroncos.com (SCB): As a native of Downers Grove, Ill., how has it been playing summer ball closer to home?
Joe Becht (JB): Playing in Ohio has been a great summer experience. While I have not had a chance to go home, the area, climate, and people remind me of Downers Grove which makes for a very comfortable place for me to be in for my first collegiate summer ball experience. There are quite a few kids from the Chicagoland area on my team and league that I used to play against which is also cool to see.
SCB: How has it been to reconnect with players from your high school and travel ball days?
JB: I have connected with many players from my high school days. One team, the Lake Erie Monarchs, has four kids I was good friends with on my travel ball team growing up, and also three or four other kids we would frequently play against in travel ball. It was cool to hang out with them when they came to Athens and hear about their first year collegiate experiences.
SCB: What has been the highlight of the summer thus far?
JB: We have had so many rainouts this summer, which has been somewhat irritating, but playing at home every night is awesome. The Copperheads have a great fan base and get about 1,000 fans every game; it feels like a minor league game. Getting close with some of the guys and putting on a show for the fans has been the best part of the summer.
SCB: How has the competition been against your Santa Clara teammate Mitchell White when the Copperheads and Lima Locos have matched up?
JB: The Lima Locos are a very good team. We have played them tough three times and are 1-2 against them. The first time we played, I got to face Mitch, and we immediately laughed when I got into the box. I drew a walk after a long at bat. So needless to say, the Broncos compete.
SCB: Tell us about something new you have learned this summer that has helped your development as a baseball player.
JB: Something I am currently learning is the necessity of relaxation while playing. I would say I am very intense and want to go full out at all times, but it just does not work like that in baseball. I struggled with that during the spring season and partly this summer. Lately, I have been just enjoying it and staying loose and relaxed, and the game is just a little bit easier. It is an ongoing process to find a consistent optimum arousal level, but I will get there.
All Summer Long 2015
Joe Becht
Check back with SantaClaraBroncos.com as well as Facebook and Twitter for more of the "All Summer Long" series.
