Eagles Crown New Hit King

Eagles Crown

By RACHEL MOORE

A NEW

First basemen Logan Haring has rewritten the history books in his four seasons as a member of the Central Methodist University baseball program.

The Dekalb, Ill., native excels on the field, earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors as a sophomore and becoming a three-time Heart of America all-conference selection. Haring will leave Central as the program’s all-time leader in home runs, RBI, doubles, atbats, and hits. Perhaps the most coveted record on the books in the CMU baseball program is the all-time hits record, held for 15 years by none other than current head coach Nate Breland, ’07. Breland reached 241 career hits when he completed his collegiate playing days in 2006. And along came Haring, who actually appeared destined to break the record in 2020, but Central managed only Hit 21 games before the COVID-19 pandemic cut the season short. At the time of the stoppage, Haring was only 39 hits shy of tying the record. When the NAIA granted spring sports another year of eligibility, Haring accepted the option and returned to the Eagles for a final run as a graduate student. The record was ultimately broken April 3 at Missouri Valley College. It was a windy day, about 70 degrees, and partly cloudy. Haring’s mom and dad, Michelle and Klent Haring, were in the stands. And they led the celebration when Logan secured the all-time hit record with a double to left field in the fifth inning. King

“It was pretty cool to have my parents there,” said Haring. “It really was a special weekend. The only way it could have been better was if I’d have done it at home.”

When asked on his thoughts on Haring as a hitter and how the two might compare, Breland said, “Logan is the perfect offensive player who hits for power and average. He is the hitter I wish could have been during my time as an Eagle. Logan is the most decorated player in the history of the program, and he has broken records that will stand for a very long time.” Breland and Haring have a special bond. “We are family,” Breland said. “I love him and will always love him for what he has done for CMU baseball, but even more importantly for what he has taught me as a coach and a father.” It was well worth the effort for Haring and his senior teammates who chose to return for the final run at a championship. Central cruised through non-conference play, including signature wins over No. 2 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, No. 11 Indiana Southeast, and No. 12 Indiana Tech. The Eagles then rolled into conference play, finishing 26-3 and claiming CMU’s first conference title since 2018. For their efforts, the Eagles received national recognition and climbed as high as No. 4 in the national polls--the highest ranking in program history. As the Talon went to press, Haring hit a long home run at Car Shield Field in O’Fallon, Mo. to propel the Eagles past William Carey for the regional championship, making CMU the first Heart of America team to make it to the NAIA world series since 1999.