Note: 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, but for college baseball players, it is a time for development. College players across the country, including members of the Santa Clara baseball squad, have already left for their summer experiences just weeks after finals as they begin preparation for the 2015 season.
After a much-improved 2014 campaign on the Mission Campus, Bronco ball players now occupy rosters throughout the nation in summer leagues that are helping them grow as players. Santa Clara is represented in twelve different leagues from the Bay Area to New England, while others play for independent teams. The "All Summer Long" series, in its fourth season, will chronicle the Broncos as they play in various summer leagues nationwide.
By Dylan Lynch '16
Old Orchard Beach, Maine - Evan Brisentine is happy to be back in a place he's familiar with this summer, though it's not anywhere near home for the San Ramon, Calif. native. For the second summer in a row, Brisentine is playing for the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL). The rising senior looks to improve his game this summer while enjoying the East Coast for one last summer with the Raging Tide.
Brisentine, who made nine appearances on the mound for the Broncos last season, was glad to return to Maine to play in the FCBL, though this year he has a fellow Bronco alongside him, Max Kuhns.
"I'm glad that Max got to experience Maine with me and show everybody what Bronco baseball is all about," said Brisentine.
In their spare time, Brisentine and Kuhns have even been fortunate enough to watch their fellow teammate, Stevie Berman, who is playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League just half an hour away from Old Orchard beach.
Though, with four to five games a week, Brisentine explains that the schedule can be demanding at times.
"Every day is different, whether we are traveling five hours to a game or have a double header at home, we have to be ready for anything."
Brisentine doesn't mind being busy with baseball all summer long, saying, "it doesn't get much better than knowing all you have to do is play baseball everyday."
For the Raging Tide, Brisentine currently has a 1-1 record with 25 strikeouts for the Raging Tide, the second highest on the team.
Just like last summer, Brisentine is staying with a host family in Maine. His host family this summer is the owners of the Raging Tide that Brisentine was fortunate enough to meet last summer.
When asked if it was difficult to adjust to Maine at first, Brisentine explained, "the East Coast is a completely different world it seems like, but being around a baseball team is the same everywhere."
Playing in the FCBL Brisentine has enjoyed having the opportunity to play at some great stadiums.
"Most teams in the FCBL have great ballparks that used to be minor league fields so they are really big," though he admits that he still has a favorite, "I haven't thrown on a better mound in my life than at the Ball Park in Old Orchard Beach."
With only a couple weeks left in the season, Brisentine will be sure to take advantage of the time he has remaining in Maine as he prepares for his last season as a Bronco.
