By David Boyce
MARYVILLE, Mo. - Between the final baseball home doubleheader of the season on Saturday, Northwest Missouri State designated hitter Eric McGlauflin will be one of nine seniors honored.
Moments of his days playing for the Bearcats will likely flash through his mind. McGlauflin arrived in 2010 from Sioux City, Iowa.
As a freshmen, he hit just .229 and quickly blossomed into one of the best hitters at Northwest his sophomore season, leading the team with a .387 batting average while knocking in 30 runs.
"I think more confidence, not being a freshman and having the jitters anymore," McGlauflin said of his improvement. "I got a lot bigger that year and that helped. I was in better shape. I was ready for the grind of the season more that year."
Who really knows what McGlauflin or the other eight seniors will be feeling when they are recognized for their achievements as student-athletes at Northwest. Each individual is different.
One thing is certain: the seniors and the rest of their teammates will be locked on one goal. The Bearcats are looking to sweep Pittsburg State and reach the MIAA Baseball Tournament.
"We are trying to focus on the games at hand right now," McGlauflin said. "Obviously, it (senior day) is in the back of everybody's mind. We will try to go out and have fun this weekend and see where we end up."
This senior class has never played in the conference tournament. They want to change that before they leave.
The Bearcats are almost in a must-win situation in all four games against Pittsburg to seize the eighth and final spot for the conference tournament.
Northwest enters Friday's doubleheader 21-21 overall and 15-18 in the MIAA. The Bearcats are in ninth place, just a half game behind Northeastern State. Missouri Southern is in 10th place, a half game behind Northwest.
"I think the scenario is we have to win one more game than Northeastern and at the same time Southern can't win one more game than us if everybody gets four games in," McGlauflin said.
The doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday begin at 1 p.m.
"It means a lot to make the conference tournament," McGlauflin said. "The first three years we didn't make it. Going out with some of the seniors I have been with all four years, grinding away and having a legitimate chance this year is something we are all looking forward to."
Northwest put itself in position this season by getting off to a much better start in conference play than in previous years. The Bearcats went 8-2 in their first 10 MIAA games.
"A lot of it was the mindset of the team," McGlauflin said. "We are a loose bunch. We don't put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We are going out, having fun and not worrying about stats. Everybody has a clean slate. We wanted to prove to other teams that we are not the same team in previous years."
McGlauflin is doing his part to help the Bearcats win. He is hitting .290 this season and leads the team with 32 RBIs and 4 home runs.
The Bearcats have been hitting well as a team all season. Their team batting average is .286. They will need to be focused on Friday and Saturday. They know Pittsburg State is a dangerous team.
The Gorillas have no chance to make the conference tournament, but they can have fun playing the spoiler role.
"They are mathematically out of it. We have been in that situation," McGlauflin said. "Their seniors will be ready to come after us. For us, it is a little different. We are fighting for that last playoff spot. We are ready to show them what we are made of."
It has the makings of a very memorable week for McGlauflin. A little later this spring, McGlauflin will graduate with a degree in financial management. The last four years have been enjoyable for McGlauflin.
"I think the people, my friends on the team and being around them every day," he said of why he liked playing at Northwest. "Knowing you are working hard for the guy next to you and everybody going out there to have fun.
"The community is great. They back us up. It is just a great community and a family environment to be around."
