Being a freshman starter on a varsity baseball team isn’t easy.
Being a freshman starter on the varsity baseball at a position you’ve never played before sounds downright impossible, unless you’re St. Joseph’s Dakota Church.
The freshman from Westchester was told by head coach Jay Meath that the Chargers needed a catcher and he didn’t hesitate to take on the challenge.
“I’d only catch maybe twice a year [for a travel team], but I told him I would definitely try to do it,” Church said. “When I’m out here I’m just trying to be the most versatile player I can be. I can play anywhere in the field, I’ll pitch and if they need me to play the outfield, I’ll go do that too.”
Meath has had success in the past with freshmen changing positions to catcher. In 2007, Meath asked Joe Battaglia to switch from shortstop to catcher and the results were impressive.
Battaglia was a four-year starter and hit .420 as a senior with 40 RBI, while throwing out 14 of 18 potential base stealers. He also earned a scholarship to Northern Illinois, where he played for four years.
“[Church] hadn’t caught much growing up, but he’s adjusted really well,” Meath said. “For a young kid to do that at this level, he’s done a great job.”
Church tried to do all he could in the offseason to prepare for the move from shortstop, including working with coaches on his club team, the Downers Grove Longshots.
He also had some help from Jake Hansen, a sophomore who also lives in Westchester. The two had grown up playing baseball together and Hansen, who is an infielder/pitcher, gave his buddy some sound advice.
“I just told him to work hard and block everything behind the plate,” Hansen said. “That’s what makes good catchers. I’m not surprised he’s had success. He’s relentless and is just a straight-up ballplayer.”
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Church has been pleased with his progress behind the plate. The most difficult aspect to master hasn’t been catching, but hitting.
“The hardest thing was just catching up to these better curveballs,” Church said. “I’ve seen good curveballs coming up, but these kids are bigger, taller, stronger and it’s a huge difference. Jake gets in the cage with me and throws me some curveballs and that’s really helped. I’m starting to drive the ball, not just hit it.”
Long term, Church is hoping to follow in the path of Battaglia, but has a different college in mind. He and Hansen both hope to play at Vanderbilt.
Regardless if that scholarship comes, Church wants his baseball career to be defined by whether or not he gave every bit of himself in the pursuit.
“If you work as hard as you can and don’t get there because you weren’t good enough, you still have to be proud,” Church said. “If I go Division II, I’ll still be happy.”
St. Joseph (5-15) is showing the effects of a roster filled with young players. The Chargers dropped a 13-2 decision to Fenwick on Saturday, May 2 to fall to 2-9 in the Catholic League.
Dealing with losses was a problem for the Chargers early on, but Church thinks he and his teammates have showed resiliency.
“In the beginning of the season we would get down in the dugout if we fell behind big, but now we stay up,” Church said. “Someone is always talking and we get hyped up in the dugout, cheering our teammates on.”
Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.