A fall baseball teaser with junior Erik Harbutz

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Junior Erik Harbutz of the Wichita State baseball team 

With the annual Fall World Series coming up on Sept. 29, the Wichita State baseball team is getting back on the field. Junior Erik Harbutz talked with The Sunflower about his shoulder surgery from April 2011, the Fall World Series, baseball and his love of the Boston Red Sox. 

 

What is the Fall World Series, and what do you expect from it?

“The coaches split us up into even teams, and we play a seven-game world series like the pros. They have different guys pitch in the rotation and we play nine-inning games. It’s new guys getting used to our offense, getting used to our defense, getting more reps pitching and hitting; we’re just planning on going out there and having fun.”

 

When did you start playing baseball?

“I started in tee-ball when I was four-years-old. My dad was real big into baseball and my brothers were a little bit older than me so I just did anything they wanted to do. I just started out young and continued playing. Growing up I always played shortstop.”

 

What do you do when you’re not in season?

“I went up to Alaska this summer and played summer baseball. It was a whole new world up there. It was a great experience; I’ve never played summer baseball at 55 degrees every day. My freshman year I went to Massachusetts to play summer baseball, and my sophomore year I was supposed to go to Oregon but had surgery.”

 

How hard was it coming back from surgery?

“It was pretty difficult. You don’t realize how much stretching and rehabilitation it takes to get your shoulder back to how it was before it was injured. Our training staff is great, and I’m finally coming back around.”

 

What’s your favorite part about baseball?

“Competing. I’m a very competitive person and it’s nice to have all of those people on the field that are going for one goal. All the months of conditioning and weight training, seeing it come together is pretty neat.”

 

Why are you a Red Sox fan?

“Well, it all started in 2003 when the Yankees beat them in the ALCS. I just fell in love with how they played. They were always giving it their all, playing hard nosed, rocking the beards, and just being dirt bags. I always grew up being told to play that way and they caught my eye, so from then on it’s been the Sox. I even named my dog after them.”