Caleb Pollema–Staff Write

Athletes across the world often dread their last game. It means that the season is over and they must begin offseason preparations for the next season.

However, for ten Dordt baseball players, not only are their seasons coming to an end, but for many they are nearing the end of their baseball careers.

Contributed Photo

Saturday, April 21, Dordt baseball honored its ten seniors in between games of a doubleheader against Morningside.

I have had the privilege of getting to know several of these seniors over my freshman year of baseball and it has been an absolute honor. Each of them has their own backgrounds, stories and life goals that make them unique and truly special.

For each of the seniors, they are planning on pursuing their individual vocational careers after graduation across a variety of fields and industries.

“I have accepted a political appointee position within the Trump Administration,” said Ryan McDermott, a senior. “I will be working in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.”

Fellow senior Brandon Fokkema also plans to take his degree to the nation’s capital after college and work in a think tank with the hopes of creating positive political change.

For seniors Joshua Van Eps and Covey Jackson, they will not only be beginning their jobs after graduation, but they both will be preparing to become husbands this summer.

“I am so incredibly excited to take on all of the new challenges between being in the workforce full time and being a husband,” Van Eps said. “I couldn’t be more thankful for all that I have in front of me at this point in my life.”

As these seniors look to the future and the exciting events that lie ahead, they also acknowledge that their experiences at Dordt have shaped them into who they are today.

They recall the magical run of being a part of the first team in Dordt’s history to make it to the conference tournament last year as juniors. They remember every long bus ride and practice that allowed them to build friendships and relationships with their teammates and coaches that will last a lifetime.

These thoughts swirl around the heads of seniors everywhere as they enter their final games of their collegiate careers, but the memories of their seasons will remain.

Personally, it’s going to be difficult to see these seniors go because they have been great leaders and Godly role models for our team.

Despite the terrible winter that affected much of the season, they stayed the course. They didn’t bat an eye. They knew that it was merely part of God’s plan.

I commend them for their actions. They could have caved, but they didn’t. They could have quit on the team, but they didn’t. They handled what life threw at them and recognized God’s purpose even when they didn’t understand it.

I wish I could put into words how blessed I was by this senior class, but I can’t. One thing I can say though is that these men will enter the next chapter of their lives with an attitude and determination like any other.

They will conquer life’s challenges and recognize that their victory is not in themselves, but in Christ who has already won.

To these ten men all I can say is thank you. Thank you for leading our team and preparing us for the years to come. Thank you for taking your last year of baseball to prepare us for the final years of ours. Thank you for being men of unshakable faith.

Thank you!