By Ben Brown
Photo Courtesy of sites.lafayette.edu/baseball
Hamish MacPhail ‘13 is a government and law major, member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, bass vocalist for the Lafayette Chorduroys, lifeguard and Resident Advisor. And he plays outfield for the Lafayette College Club Baseball Team.
Though a dedicated group, Lafayette’s club baseball members do far more than just play ball.
Hailing from Bedford, Mass. MacPhail came to school expecting to play a club sport but was not sure which one. In the first semester of his freshman year, MacPhail took Associate Professor of Chemistry Chip Nataro’s FYS 023: Baseball: The One Constant Through All The Years. MacPhail said Nataro, also the coach of the club team, contacted him and asked about his baseball background. MacPhail then showed up to tryouts and made the team. He was hooked.
MacPhail described the team as “diverse” in terms of the players’ baseball and academic backgrounds. MacPhail proudly proclaimed that all four fraternities are represented on the club baseball team, but there is a healthy representation of independents and a solid crop of freshmen.
Vice-President Hugh Harris ‘12, also president of club wrestling, noted that the flexibility of the team’s schedule allows the players to pursue other interests and take full advantage of everything that Lafayette College has to offer. “We play, we play a lot, but [it’s] not as much of a commitment [as varsity]. It lets you relax out of season,” Harris said.
Nataro encourages his players to pursue academic pursuits before baseball. But the players still manage to thrive on the field.
The team finished their fall season with a 5-5 record and has high expectations for the spring season.
“We look pretty good,” Harris said. “We picked up some pitching depth with freshmen. Depth at positions gives us flexibility. We only lost a couple seniors [this past year].”
MacPhail agreed that the pitching depth is exceptional and can carry the team over elite club competition. “It is deeper than usual, including Peter Bain ‘12. He pitches really well. If our pitching really does well, we will have a good shot against Drexel and Delaware.”
Often during spring break, the team travels south to Tampa, Fla. In previous years, the team has had the chance to meet Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays. Rays’ manager Joe Maddon attended Lafayette College and coordinates with Nataro to bring the Lafayette team and the Rays together.
“It’s a really neat experience,” said Harris, who went on the trip last season. “We will definitely go down again.”
Harris recalls shagging fly balls in the outfield during Rays batting practice and meeting players such as reliever Cory Wade – now with the Yankees – and Rays’ utility-man Ben Zobrist.
MacPhail, an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, enjoyed meeting former Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon, whom he grew up watching. “I respect him. He was fun-loving and a good guy.”
Even with the fall season over, the players still have a lot on their plates. But they seem to have all their bases covered.