On Sunday, April 10, the men’s baseball team swept Amherst in a doubleheader on the road. It was the first time in the team’s history that they had swept another team while not playing at home. Brady Slinger ʼ22 was instrumental in the team’s success, racking up four hits, including a home run in the first game.
The Spectator
sat down with Slinger to ask him about the doubleheader and the rest of the season.
Amherst had been a tough team to beat over your last few seasons. How did it feel to sweep them this past weekend?
Sweeping Amherst was certainly the highlight of the season so far, maybe even my career here at Hamilton. We have really come together as a unit these past few weeks, so it was rewarding seeing our effort come to fruition. This weekend was a defining moment for Hamilton baseball, as we’ve never swept a team on the road, ever. It’s exciting to make history for Hamilton baseball.
You personally had a monster weekend at the plate with nine hits and six RBIs. What factor do you think was most responsible for the offensive explosion for both you and the team?
Confidence is crucial in baseball. If you know you are better than that opposing pitcher, good things will happen. We had a lot of guys step up in key spots, and everyone seemed to build off of each other at the plate. For me, the baseball looked like a beach ball up there. It was hard not to hit it.
How can the team continue the momentum from the doubleheader? What can you improve upon for the rest of the season?
To keep up the momentum, we need to have that next-guy-up mentality. Against Amherst, we were without our starting shortstop, but the guys played really well. We have to trust that as a team, nothing can faze us. I would not say pitching and hitting can improve much from this past weekend, but hopefully the clutch gene stays with us.
Hamilton is now in first-place in the NESCAC West Division. What does that mean for the team’s playoff hopes, and how much are you focusing on the NESCAC standings at the moment?
It feels great to be first in the conference, but there are a lot of games left. This team is not distracted by the standings. We take it one series at a time and expect to succeed. The NESCAC is a tough conference, and right now we are just battling for a playoff spot.
What are your goals for both the massive three-game series against Wesleyan this weekend and the rest of the season?
Of course, the goal this weekend is to take the series against Wesleyan. They are second in the standings, and it would be the next step toward making the playoffs. If we had a rival in conference, it would be Wesleyan; we hate their guts. I’m excited to battle it out, especially at home. Personally, I plan on continuing to barrel baseballs and help this team make a name for ourselves in the NESCAC.
Lightning Round
Best team tradition?
Kissing the egg if you score a run (gotta be there to see it).
Go-to game day meal?
PB&J. Can’t stomach Commons on game day.
Do you have any personal superstitions before games?
I never touch the foul line. That would be a crime.
Song/artist on your personal pregame playlist?
Jason Derulo.
Teammate with a secret talent?
Jackson Johns ʼ24 does a mean air guitar.
Favorite athletic memory from Hamilton?
Jay Schlaefer ʼ23’s go-ahead home run vs. Wesleyan during the 2021 COVID-19 season.
