Dixie State University’s past players and current athletes participated in the annual alumni game, Saturday.
Chris Pfatenhauer, head coach for DSU’s baseball team, said he was happy to have the alumni back and playing with current athletes who have played in the All American conference together.
“This season we have a young club but certainly have a talented group.” Pfatenhauer said. “It’s a team that the product will be good on the field in April, but even better in May. We’re going to continue to get better and that’s going to be our goal.”
DSU alumnus, Trey Kamachi, from Kapolei, Hawaii, was one of the many returning alumni to play the traditional game against the current DSU athletes and was very pleased about his new alumni title.
“This was my first alumni game,” Kamachi said. “I thought it was fun to see my old teammates and everything. We had to come out and show them what we had. It was fun being out here with all the older guys and seeing the new team and seeing how they get to play against the older guys. I think next year we’ll actually come out with the win.”
Kamachi also gave advice to the younger current base players in which he discussed the goals for the players should be to get as far as you can when playing baseball.
“Take every game one at a time; there’s been years where we’ve been really bad at the very beginning and then we ended up on top at the end,” Kamachi said. “The ultimate goal is to get as far as you can when playing baseball. Just keep working hard and good things will happen.”
Assistant Coach Patrick Perry said bringing the alumni back and having their support for the good-spirited game benefits the younger players to build relationships and the alumni to keep track of DSU baseball team.
“Our goal is to continue our active west region street and find our way into the regional; it would be great to go to the college world series,” Perry said. “We hope to do this by seeing our guys getting better every day and really just pushing them on the field.”
Starting catcher Jake Davison, a senior integrated studies major from Taylorsville, is looking forward to becoming an alumnus.
“I’ve been playing since I was 5, and I love the game and it’s coming to an end,” Davison said. “I’m trying to soak it all in. I’ll be there next year, and it’s kind of a weird feeling because I’ve played a lot against those guys in the past couple years.”
Davison shared his feelings about playing his last season for the DSU baseball team. He emphasized his transition to becoming an alumnus after graduating and the importance of being a good example to the younger players.
“I think I’ve gone through the ropes all four years here,” Davison said. “I’m just excited to teach the young guys kind of how to do it, teach them the way, kind of leave what I can behind, leave on a good note.”
Pfatenhauer said DSU has had players make it to the major league and few players become drafted. This year he believes he may have two athletes who will potentially be drafted.
“Obviously they have to grind through the minor leagues to go to the major league level but I think we have guys that have a certain work level, that if they stick with it they might have the chance,” Pfatenhauer said.
The first season game will be played on DSU’s Bruce Hurst Field, Feb. 8 against Montana State Billings University at 6 p.m.
