Ward Sutlive, Campus Carrier sports editor
“The people make Berry,” David Beasley, head coach of the baseball team, said.
As someone who has worked at Berry College for 31 years, Beasley has had a lot of experience with both coaching and the college. From being an honorary alumnus to having multiple family members attend and graduate Berry, Beasley has seen many types of players come and go. But no matter how much time has passed, one thing has always stood out to him: the team’s collective brotherhood and drive.
“Martha Berry had a great vision,” Beasley said. “I think she did a wonderful job of serving others, and she definitely made the world a better place when she left than it was when she got here.”
According to Takana Mukono, a sophomore outfielder, the team has always had a good relationship with one another. Many of the players say they are inspired by the work that others have done to get them to play for Berry.
“I want to take the advantage of the sacrifices and do good so that I can show them all that the sacrifices they made for me to have this opportunity were worth it,” Mukono said.
Senior first baseman Riley Uhl’s parents came to all of his games when he was growing up and gave him the support that he needed to play. Whether it was cutting-edge sports equipment or simply inspiration and encouragement, they were there for him. The coaches take on a similar role for the entire team, guiding the team to the success that they crave.
“They give everything they have every time we’re at practice, and that drives me to work hard for them.” Uhls said.
Just as many of the players admire and respect the coaches, Beasley shares a similar admiration for the players. Beasley appreciates the team’s work ethic and speed. This season in particular has seen an increase in the team’s speed, which they have begun to demonstrate in their games. However, Beasley most appreciates the way that the players handle themselves on the field.
“I’m proud of the way that they handle themselves, and represent the school,” Beasley said.
Many players on the team are brought together by their religious beliefs. Some players hold a Bible study every week, with about half the team attending. According to Uhls, many players are dedicated to God, their faith informing a lot of their motivations and goals. Some players have even become more religious than they used to be, going so far as to get baptized. Mukono is driven by his faith, which compels to do the best he can to excel.
“God gave me the gifts to play sports, so I need to use those gifts to give glory back to him,” Mukono said.
Many members of the team have different ways of dealing with losing a game. Senior outfielder Charles Pulaski allows himself to be mad during his walk back to the locker room and takes some time to reassess. After he leaves the locker room, he lets the anger and sense of loss wash away.
“Once I get out of that locker room, it’s on to the next game,” Pulaski said.
With 46 players on the roster, there are many different perspectives and personalities on the baseball team. Despite that, Mukono said that the team is good at balancing each other out. Having a large group of players allows for more versatility than they would have with a smaller team. As a result, there is a player for every challenge they face. The team has also become more adept at figuring out which players are best suited to accomplishing certain tasks. Some members of the team are strong hitters, while others are extremely fast. Regardless, every member on the team has a vital purpose.
“Baseball has given me some of my best friends,” Mukono said. “All the time we spend together on and off the field really builds a strong relationship that I hope lasts for the rest of my life.”
The players are firm believers in accountability. When a player makes a mistake or does something wrong, they are called out on it and told how they can improve. According to Pulaski, the members of the team do this because they care deeply for one another and want to see each other succeed. He expects the team to do the same for him.
“It’s a family, a brotherhood, and a community that I look forward to keeping for the rest of my life, because I built relationships and friendships that I think will last a lifetime,” Pulaski said.
Many members of the team also show up with a powerful intensity to play their best.
“Our brotherhood that we’ve been building this year is a special dynamic,” Pulaski said.
Most recently, the Vikings played three games against Emory University last week, enjoying 16-6, 13-3 and 6-4 victories. Many players, including Pulaski, looked forward to the games with eager anticipation.
“It’s my last year playing baseball, so I’m going to take every single game as a blessing and just enjoy it,” Pulaski said.
The team’s next game against Swarthmore College will be this Friday in Kannapolis, N.C. After that, the team will remain in Kannapolis, playing against Washington and Lee University on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Susquehanna University on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
“I think there’s a difference between participating and competing, and I just want us to compete every day,” Beasley said.