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USF Summer Baseball Blog No. 20 - Matt Hiserman
July 20, 2009
Today we hear from sophomore right-hander Matt Hiserman, who is pitching for the Orleans Firebirds in Orleans, Massachusetts.
Hello Dons fans. I am writing from Orleans, Massachusetts where I am currently playing for the Orleans Firebirds (formerly known as the Orleans Cardinals). Orleans is on the eastern side of the cape with the Atlantic Ocean on its eastern border and Cape Cod Bay on its western border.
This is my third summer of collegiate summer baseball. The past two summers I spent in Bethesda, Maryland playing for the Bethesda Big Train. Those two years I spent with an incredible host family on a very successful team. Because of this I was coming to Orleans with expectations I was sure could not be matched. This fear was reaffirmed when we got to the cape and not only did it seam to rain for the first two weeks but we also started the season out 0-4 and were the lone team on the cape without a win. However, after winning our first game in dramatic fashion things started to come together.
It was a Tuesday morning when seven members of the Orleans Firebirds (0-4) pitching staff (me included) along with one of our catchers left Eldridge Park for Wellfleet Elementary. Wellfleet Elementary was one of the five elementary schools that the Firebirds visited throughout the first few weeks so we could meet the kids, answer any questions, and sing autographs. It seemed like any other normal trip to the elementary schools, but little did we know it could be the turning point for out entire season. After visiting grades 1-4, the eight of us, assisted by our pitching coach, walked down the hall to the 5th graders classroom. We were surprised to see that there was no one in the classroom. We soon found out that we oddly enough were a little behind schedule, (something very foreign to USF pitchers....) and the 5th graders were already out at recess. With recess being the favorite subject in elementary school for most of our group we were eager to get out there. This was until we saw them playing a game of soccer. We were asked to join. Having not won a game all summer we reluctantly joined. It was a nail biter all the way, with either tremendous goal keeping or terrible shooting, either way it was clear no one was going to score. We finally had to turn to penalty kicks. We decided that each team would have three shots. After the first five shots all completely missed the area in and around the goals, it was down to our catcher. It all seemed to happen in slow motion as Matt Koch (LMU) kicked the ball right between the legs of the Wellfleet Elementary 5th grade goalie. It was our first victory of the summer. Later that day we went to Hyannis to play the Mets and were able to get out first baseball win of the summer. The next day the sun came out and everything was great. After getting that tough win on a walk off in penalty kicks everything has seemed to get a little easier for out team and we are now currently in first place in the eastern division of the Cape Cod League and hold the best record in either division.
It has been a great summer to date. We have since had absolutely beautiful weather and with the beach about a mile and a half from our field it has been a tough location to beat. I am staying with Nancy Nickerson and her husband Rob. Both of their children have graduated college and have families of their own. Because of this they have been able to take in myself, along with another pitcher Brett Weibley (Kent State), and have treated us as their own. The team is a great group of ball players but more importantly are a great group of guys from all over the country including three NCAA national champions, one from Oregon State, one from Fresno State, and one from Lynn University who won the Division II Championship this year. Being around these players and hearing their stories of Omaha has only got me more ready to start the spring. I hope everyone is enjoying their summers and I will see you all in the fall. AOEP!
