The 22nd ranked Emory baseball team has reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championships, following a 9-7 victory over State University of New York, Cortland, May 25, and an upset victory over second ranked Linfield College, May 24. The run has been due in part to the efforts of three former Wolverines who have made an impact on the team this year, pitchers Connor Dillman ’11 and Hans Hansen ’13 and outfielder Wes Peacock ’11.
Hansen finished his senior season at Harvard-Westlake by winning the National Championship, pitching 31 innings and sporting a 1.35 earned run average. He has struck out 44 batters thus far this season, while only allowing six to reach base via walk. Hansen credits his experience as a member of the Wolverine baseball program for shaping his perspective on the sport.
“[My time at Harvard-Westlake] definitely made me expect more of myself and the team I’m on,” he said.
Dillman led the Eagles with a 10-1 record when on the mound this season. The right-hander struck out 78 batters in his 84.1 innings pitched this year, while only surrendering 22 earned runs.
Peacock batted .339 on the year, notching a team high 15 doubles. His best game this season came against Rochester March 2, when he went 4-4 with five runs batted in during the team’s 14-2 victory. He likened his experience as an Eagle to his experience as a Wolverine, but said that there was a major difference in the time commitment.
“We play a lot more games in college, so the grind of a long season really gets to you by playoff time,” Peacock said. “In the World Series, we have a game every day. You don’t have that kind of schedule in high school. The schedule is tough on our bodies, but you just got to get over it and play hard like any other day.”
“It’s been a really special experience,” Dillman said. “[Division III] baseball doesn’t usually get too much attention, so it has been really nice to be able to compete on a bigger stage at such a well-organized event.”
The team played Southern Maine, May 26, but results were not available as of press time.
