By Spencer Dobkin
For Mitzpeh
@Spencer_Dobkin
In the spring of Devin Rosen’s sophomore year, he realized something was missing in his college life. It was time to get back into his favorite activity: baseball.
The math major had been playing since he was five years old, but hadn’t played since graduating high school, so he wasn’t sure how he would fare. Though Rosen didn’t make this university’s team that year, he still felt the urge to return to his favorite sport.
Rosen came back to tryouts the next year, and in the fall of his junior year he made this university’s club baseball team. He could finally get back to the sport he loved most.
He was called into action from the bench against William & Mary that spring when a starter was injured. From that game forward, he became a starter in the outfield.
Rosen is now in his senior year at this university, and is ready for another season with the club baseball team.
Team President Matt Sniezek, who is also a coach and third baseman, says he loves having “D-Rose” around. Sniezek says Rosen is an integral part of the outfield and a great mentor for other players.
“He’s a great guy with a great personality,” said the senior mechanical engineering major.
Rosen stays in touch with the younger players to help them adapt to college life both on and off the field, playing pickup basketball and taking them to games.
“The senior leadership Devin displays is huge,” Sniezek said.
Though he’s only played for a short time, Rosen has had many great moments with the team. While playing No.1 ranked East Carolina University in last year’s playoffs, the team was leading through six innings, until “the wheels fell off,” Rosen said. They ended up losing, but Rosen believed the team put forth their best effort.
“It extends so much beyond just baseball, we’re such a tight-knit group of kids,” Rosen said.
The team has given him a social outlet and introduced him to a group of friends he doesn’t think he’d find anywhere else.
Rosen’s friend Kyle Chieh, who is a shortstop and pitcher for the team, is hoping for a bid to the National Club Baseball Association World Series this year with Devin and the team.
“[Devin] is one of our best hitters,” Chieh said. “He always has a positive attitude and keeps up the moods of his teammates,” added the kinesiology major.
Rosen and the club baseball team played 10 exhibition games this fall to prepare for the main season next semester. After losing in the regional championship round last year as the sixth seed to ECU, the team is looking to go further into the playoffs.
“We picked up a lot of good freshmen, and hopefully we’ll get some more new guys next semester,” Rosen said. “We’re just a well put together group of guys.”
