Welcome to the 2019 Potomac State Baseball Player Diary homepage. This season, Sophomores Andrew Berry (Morgantown High School / Morgantown, W.Va.), and Joel Spishock (Carmichaels High School / Carmichaels, Pa.) will take the lead on the Potomac State Baseball Player Diary.  Note: Berry's entry will be in BOLD font.

Hello, all Catamount fans and followers and thank you for tuning in to what will be the last player diary of the 2019 season. Sadly, our playoff run ended this past weekend.

Now that I am home, the season has ended, and I have had some time to reflect on this past year, I couldn't have been happier with the way things happened.

I remember coming to campus for the first few days of the school year not knowing what to expect from this team at all. I mean, last year we had so much talent on the team. We had a great chemistry, but it was all lost, and we had to start over from scratch. Then, we had our very first meeting. Walking into the clubhouse for the first time since last year was a great experience, but what was weird was seeing the faces of all the new freshman. I just remember looking around and thinking that this team won't be anywhere close to last year's team. Shortly after that, we had our very first practice of the year. Honestly, it was like the Bad News Bears. Balls were flying around everywhere, and I thought right then and there that our ship had sunk. But, the year went on, and some things changed.

Through the fall season, our performances got progressively better, mainly due to the effort everyone was putting in. We would always have early infield practices and extra hitting practices and things were really paying off because you could see improvement.

Going into the spring season, I still was unsure how things would go. I don't think anyone really expected us to be good, and you could sense some self-doubt in the team. That all changed, however, when we beat Florence-Darlington during our first weekend in South Carolina. That's when things started to change, and I think then we felt we had the ability to be a great team if we really worked hard at it. One thing I always kept in the back of my mind was when Coach Little had said we would be lucky to be a ".500 team," at one of our practices.  What he meant was that we would be lucky to win the same number of games as we lost. I think we all kept that as a chip on our shoulder through the year.

Fast forward through the season - we were winning a lot of games, and started to realize we could actually make a run in the playoffs. Then when it was time for Regionals, we got second place and made it to Eastern District, which is something I never would have guessed. On top of all of that, we won our first game there. However, things didn't go our way afterwards, and we were eliminated, but I think all of those steps were huge for our program.

Now as far as the chemistry of this team went, it was truly indescribable. There is really no other team I would have liked to be a part of for my last year at WVU Potomac State College. You really can't describe it in one word, but if I had to, it would be "unselfish." Everyone on this team always had each other's back, and wanted them to succeed no matter what -even if they were battling for the same position. We all just got along so well, and that comradery was reflected on the baseball field. Another thing that I really loved about our team was our grit, and willingness to win. Through the ups and down, you could never count us out of anything. It was really the personalities of everyone, and the memories that I have held onto the most, since I have left. I can't thank my teammates enough for giving me such a great year at WVU Potomac State College, and I know in the future they will be successful in whatever path they take in baseball, or life in general.

As far as the program itself, I cannot thank all my coaches enough, for bringing me into WVU Potomac State College, and putting their trust in me. Coming out of high school, I didn't have much opportunity to play anywhere, and that's when I found Potomac State. It was such an honor to be brought into such a top tier program, and right from the start I felt at home. In my two years here, I have become a much better ball player than I was, as well as becoming a better person. My coaches taught me the right way to go about life; how to get through the brick walls life puts in front of you, to never give up, and that success takes effort. Baseball is really more than a game, and these lessons I have learned are what I will hold with me through the rest of my life. I truly cannot thank the coaches enough for all they have done for me in my two years at Potomac State; especially helping me develop, and getting me to the next level, so that I can continue playing the game I love.

Doing this player diary for this year was a blessing in disguise really. It was somewhat time-consuming to do every week, but now I am glad that I contributed. From my weekly entries, I am now able to have documentation of my last year at WVU Potomac State College, and keep that with the Catamount Family, and myself, forever. I am glad Coach Schafer chose me to participate. I really hope you all enjoyed the videos and diaries that my counterpart, Berry and I, have put out for you to see. It was a labor of love. I want to thank you all for all of your support of the program, and I hope you continue to do so through the years. As far as next year, there are some smart and funny freshman coming to the college, so whoever gets picked to contribute to the diary is sure to do a great job. Once again, thank you for always tuning in each week. For my last words, I just want to say "Go Cats!!!"

After our final loss this past season, we were riding back to Keyser from Bel-Air, MD.  When we arrived back to the clubhouse, it came time to unload the bus one last time and turn in all of our equipment.  Before we got off the bus, Coach Little said "College Baseball flies by. You only get four years to play, so enjoy it. Because, once those 4 years are up, you can never get them back." For me, that statement hit home. It made me once again realize how quickly great things like this can pass you by.  Since Potomac State is a Junior College, we only get to spend two years here, before we essentially have to start from scratch. That means that there is an even smaller amount of time to spend with your teammatesm, and to try to spend as much time together as possible. In life, you never really know if you have been living your "good 'ole days," until they are over. That is just the case in this situation. Over the past two years, WVU Potomac State College has built a special place in my heart, and in my life, which is forever irreplaceable. When most recruit's, including myself, initially come to Potomac State, it is difficult to know what to expect.  Many of us are leaving home for the first time to begin college.  On top of that, everyone on the team usually has a reason for how they ended up playing baseball at a Junior College.  Each person has their own back story, completely different from one another, as to why we were brought together.  What happens during the time spent at Potomac State becomes unmatched. 

To my teammates, I am thankful that I got to meet each and every single one of you.  One of the main reasons, if not the main reason, I decided I wanted to play baseball in college was for the relationships that are built.  Some of the best friendships that I have had, have come from playing on a team, and especially in college. Playing with my teammates at Potomac State was no exception.  Over the course of two years, I can safely say that I have gained around 60 new friends that I love dearly, and would do anything for. From the sophomores who guided me a year ago, to the freshman I took under my wing this year, and my brothers that were there by my side for both years - all of you have a special place in my heart.  I will always remember the late nights hitting at the rec center or field, lifting under the gymnasium, messing around in University Place, or taking one of the countless adventures it seemed that teammates and I endured. I won't remember these times because of what happened, but because of who I was doing each activity with.  I will remember the time spent with each of my brothers, and continue to cherish all the time we had together. Whether it was on or off the field, the memories we have created are priceless memories that we will always remember.

To my coaches - I thank each of you for always pushing my teammates and I to be the best we could possibly be.  Playing college baseball has made me realize that being a collegiate baseball coach is no easy task at all.  Countless hours are spent in preparation for everything; whether it is a game, practice, travel, or something as simple as a team meeting.  There is so much that goes on in the background that coaches do that the campus community, and sometimes their own players, don't even realize. On top of that, a bunch of 18 to 20-year-olds are probably not the easiest group of young men to coach. Coach Little, Coach Schafer, and Coach K from my teammates and myself I thank you guys for all of that.  From yelling "MINE!MINE!MINE!," when calling the baseball, to learning how to conduct yourself on a road trip in public. All of the things that you have taught us, whether it is on the field or off, I am sure will stick in our heads forever, and we are better people now due to that fact.

To the readers - thank you for following along, and watching this past season.  This year, Joel and I wanted to do the best possible job to help give as many people as possible the opportunity to feel like they were a part of this journey with us.  From the diaries, to our YouTube videos, we made each one hoping to add onto the experience, and make each person feel like they were right there with us.  When we decided to take on the task of operating the player diaries for 2019, we were both unsure of how it would go, and whether we would enjoy doing it.  After the fact, I can safely say that I would do it over and over again.  Being one of the guys who helped provide an all-access look into the lives of some of our players has been so much fun, and each week the feeling of completing a great diary and/or video for the viewers was so awesome. 

That is all for the final edition of the 2019 Potomac State Baseball Player Diary. Thank you again to everyone who read the diaries and watched the videos this year.  It has been a pleasure getting to do this for the past 19 weeks. Make sure to still check out the team on twitter @PotomacStateBB, and Youtube @PotomacStateBaseball, as I am sure new things will be posted throughout the summer, and next fall leading up to the new diaries. Thank you for reading. Until next season, "Go Catamounts!!"