Two locals hope second season of college baseball equals more playing time

Two local players who exclusively played junior varsity baseball during their first year of college are both hopeful that their sophomore seasons will bring more playing time.

South Central High School graduate Austin Schwarm and Patoka High School graduate Quinn Wadkins both said they have reason to believe they can compete for varsity roster spots at their respective colleges this coming academic year.

Schwarm, who attends McKendree University in Lebanon, said the coaching at McKendree has transformed him as a player, and his performance for Vandalia’s Sr. Legion team showed a much-improved player over last summer’s version.

Jim Boehne – who will be entering his 18th year at the helm of the program – made some changes to Schwarm’s offensive approach, and that resulted in a .414 average and .503 on-base percentage over the summer.

“He made my swing shorter and flatter, and I think that’s helped me a lot,” Schwarm said. “Between last summer and this summer, I can see a big improvement in my swing.

“I learned a ton,” he said. “Coach Boehne over there is experienced, and he knows what he is talking about, so it helps the younger guys gradually get into the swing of things over there.”

Schwarm played left field for the JV squad and also pitched a lot of innings after several varsity pitchers were injured and replaced by JV pitchers.

McKendree went 21-29 at the varsity level, including a 13-23 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, in the Bearcats’ first year as a full member in Division II of the National College Athletic Association after many years as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Schwarm acknowledged that it will be tough to break into the Bearcat lineup, but as a motivated player, he should never be counted out.

“They said to keep working hard and competing for that outfield spot on the varsity roster,” Schwarm said. “We had three freshmen outfielders starting on varsity, and some of those outfielders are incredible – they’re fast and can hit the ball – so hopefully, I can compete with them.”

About 100 miles north, Wadkins will be fighting for a middle infield role at Illinois College.

Under the tutelage of 14-year coaching veteran Jay Eckhouse, Wadkins said he can anticipate plays better than ever.

“I think the game better now,” he said. “We learned a lot of fundamentals and technical things, and that has helped my mental game.”

Wadkins was primarily a second baseman during the Sr. Legion season, providing stability on his part of the infield, and helping turn several double plays and cut down would-be base stealers.

Despite only playing in a handful of JV contests at IC – mostly as a pitcher – he still was a .312 hitter for Vandalia, and even slugged his first home run since pony league, despite still feeling rusty toward the end of the season.

“I feel I am better mentally, but I am still shaking off rust,” Wadkins said during the District Tournament. “I was on JV, so we didn’t play a lot of games, and I was mostly a pitcher.

“When I came back here and started fielding and hitting again, it took a while to adjust,” he said. “But I feel like I am better for it.”

Many of the middle infielders for IC graduated this past spring, so there will be some competition for playing time.

Wadkins just hopes he can find himself an opportunity.

“I am hoping to play more infield,” he said. “We graduated seven or eight guys who were position players.”

Additionally, St. Elmo High School graduate Blaine Scholes will be entering his third season with the Blueboys as a middle infielder.

Others from the area who will be continue their college baseball careers next year are Trevor Montgomery and Dathan Berning, both Vandalia graduates who play at Greenville College.