The weather is starting to turn back around for a new spring, which means the baseball team is looking to find some normalcy in itself. After roughly five weeks of indoor training and ten inches of snow on the diamond, this group of men will look to take the field for practices for the first time this year. As they begin to shape up for the season, the team was strengthened even more with the addition of two players in the winter offseason.
Thomas Dowell is a transfer freshman from Cahokia, IL. He has lived there his whole life, and that is where he grew a passion for baseball. Thomas is the second youngest of a six-sibling household, which can attest to his competitive spirit. Dowell reflects, “I grew up watching baseball with my family and that’s where I developed the love for it”. Now, the new Greenville infielder says being able to play is “just the cherry on top”. Dowell hits and throws right.
Dowell decided on Greenville for his next chapter due to the community feel that it provides. He mentioned that “that was a big contributor to my decision.” On top of his love for the game, Dowell is a volunteer firefighter at his local department back home.
The baseball team also added Rhett Pennington over the semester break. Pennington comes from Pekin, Indiana, and he is looking forward to being “… able to be a part of something great here at GU.” He grew up loving the game of baseball, which was passed down from his father and now runs in the family. “My whole family has been baseball crazy ever since I was born,” he comments. Pennington mentions that his brothers also enjoy playing baseball. He comes to Greenville as a righty thrower and a lefty hitter.
The newest outfielder on the baseball team found Greenville through his high school girl’s basketball coach, who had previously attended GU and played here as well. “It was a big connection for me to come here,” Pennington states. Since he began attending GU, Pennington has come to enjoy the campus and its welcoming environment.
These two players will look to quickly adapt to the culture and process of the Greenville Baseball Team. With the squad this year being so young and fresh, Dowell and Pennington hope to make an impact right away. They are also looking to help contribute to what the team is looking to accomplish this season. Dowell will be looking to help on the corners of the infield while Pennington will do the same in the outfield. The two new arrivals have gotten right into the swing of things with practices, and they hope to translate the hard work to help the team. As the season begins to take action, the whole team will look to better prepare themselves for conference play.
Media by Noah Casali.
