Bauman is great defensive outfielder in college

By Casey Krautkramer

Riley Bauman of Stratford made a giant leap in his defensive play from his sophomore to junior seasons as an outfielder for Division III St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn.

He improved his fielding so much this spring that he was awarded to the American Baseball Coaches Association Region 9 all-defensive team. Bauman, while playing centerfield, had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and he recorded 90 putouts with four assists in 94 chances.

“I was pretty terrible out there while playing left field during my sophomore season; I was probably the worst defensive outfielder that we had on the field,” Bauman admitted. “I worked on improving my defense and a lot of guys on the team that season taught me some stuff. Brandon Merfeld, who I took over for in centerfield this season after he graduated, kind of taught me the ins and outs of playing outfield.”

Bauman was also awarded all-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) this spring. He started all 20 games for St. Mary’s University and posted a .370 batting average and having 10 extra-base hit, including a team-leading five home runs while adding 17 RBIs and having a .658 slugging percentage.

In St. Mary’s University’s 39 games overall, Bauman had a team-high .366 batting average including 10 doubles, three triples and a team-leading seven home runs while adding 28 runs scored and 29 RBIs. He finished the Cardinals’ three games in the MIAC playoffs hitting .385 with four runs scored and four RBIs.

Bauman is currently in his second summer playing for the Marshfield Chaparrals in the Dairyland League. He was a pivotal player in the Chaparrals’ 17-8 win against the Waupaca Lakemen last Wednesday at Jack Hackmann Field in Marshfield.

He was hit by a pitch in first inning and ended up scoring the Chaparrals’ first run of the game. Bauman smacked a three-RBI double off the outfield wall in the fourth inning to give the Chaparrals an 8-0 lead. He hit a leadoff double off the right field fence on the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning. Bauman ended up stealing third base and scoring on the Waupaca catcher’s throwing error past third base to give Marshfield a 10-6 lead. He walked in the eighth inning and scored on Colin De-Boer’s RBI single.

Bauman and his family members in the bleachers thought he hit a home run in the ninth inning but it was an RBI double off the left field fence. He admitted that it was an adjustment from using a metal bat in high school, summer American Legion baseball and in college, to using a wooden bat while playing with the Chaparrals.

“It was definitely an adjustment because I have a lot of swings where the ball just doesn’t fly like you think it will,” Bauman said. “I could have sworn in my last at-bat that the ball was leaving the park but it must have hit it too high. I think using a wooden bat does make me a better hitter. Playing for the Chaparrals is definitely a different experience than playing at college so I think it’s fun to get a little contrast.”

Bauman is happy to have a large contingent of family members watching his Chaparrals games again this summer.

“It’s fun because they are here for all of it,” he said. “My grandpa and grandma (Russ and Rose Bauman) have been to so many of my games and they are very supportive of me, so I am lucky to have them.”

Bauman has one year of college baseball remaining next spring before he graduates from college with a bachelor of science degree in biology with an emphasis in physical therapy. He will then decide which physical therapy school to attend. He’d love to play for the Chaparrals again next summer if he is still in the area.

STANDING TOUGH AT THE PLATE- Riley Bauman of Stratford steps out of the batter’s box after fouling off a pitch during last Wednesday’s Marshfield Chaparrals 17-8 home win against the Waupaca Lakemen. Bauman is wearing his St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn. batting helmet. STAFF PHOTOS/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER

HIGH FIVE FOR A GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAY- Riley Bauman, right, receives a high five from Marshfield Chaparrals teammate Colin DeBoer after catching a fly ball in centerfield last Wednesday to end the Waupaca Lakemen’s top of the first inning at Jack Hackmann Field in Marshfield.