winning two out of the three games. As the team believes in Richter and each other, their on-the - field play improves. "We have a pretty tight bond, " Wagoner said . "It's only up for us. We've come a long way since we first started playing together in the fall." Richter and the squad know they can still play good baseball. Despite losing significant talent to graduation, the Jackets believe that they can take steps toward becoming an elite program when all the pieces come together. "We lost power. We lost some speed, " Richter said . "The question is, how much better can our guys get over the course of the year?" Richter wants the team to embrace the opportunity to walk and get on base. Richter des ires a team of players comfortable in a small ball role rather than a team full of high-risk, highreward sluggers . While the Jackets may not be as athletic as some other teams in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, Richter feels that if the guys play the game well, they will w in consistently. With teams like Trevecca Nazarene and Tiffin University near the top of the conference year in and year out, execution becomes much more c ritical. Pa rt of a coach's role at the college level is about mentoring players to become better people. Richter fully embraces the opportunity to help his players grow spiritually. He believes the best way to help guys grow is not through repetitive Bible studies but by pulling guys aside in the moment and addressing issues immediately. When guys get angry or blow up, Richter emphasizes putting baseball in its proper place. "First of all, baseball is not that important," Richter said . "Baseball is first and foremost a gift from God ." Richter relates with guys who put baseball over everything else. He played at Westmont College in California and saw the drive to become an elite player consume him. He instills lessons in his players about putting baseball in perspective, and Richter himself wants to see those lessons change his life as well. Cedarville baseball is getting a new philosophy with Richter-a fresh start to a new year and a new era . While the Yellow Jackets remain humble, spring brings about hope and belief. Richter and the Jackets know anything is possible when the umpire yells, "Play Ball!" Jonathan is a senior Journalism major and writer for Cedars. He loves any sport he can find and has an extensive collection of team hats, which he models nonstop. Coach Matt Richter : "The question is, how much better can our guys get over the course of the year." Spring 2023 Photograph by Logan Howard
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