FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, February 25, 2016 Sternhagen swinging strong in final season with ‘Jackets
One of MSUB’s key seniors from the state of Montana, second baseman Colter Sternhagen returns for his final year with the ‘Jackets after battling through arm injuries and helping the team to a GNAC title in 2015. MSUB SPORTS – Colter Sternhagen was present for all 27 of Montana State University Billings’ baseball team’s victories last season, a win total that hadn’t been reached by the Yellowjackets in the 10 years since it had been reinstated in 2006. Splitting time at third base and designated hitter, Sternhagen got to experience the first-ever GNAC title for the ‘Jackets as he and his teammates leapt into a dogpile at Saint Martin’s University after clinching the championship on the final day of the regular season. He was a contributor offensively, driving in 24 runs and finishing second only to All-American Brody Miller in doubles with 14 on the season. Still, something seemed to be missing for the Helena, Mont., native. Fresh off of a recovery from a torn labrum in his right (throwing) arm, Sternhagen still played with the vice of his surgically-repaired shoulder holding him back. His body knew he could take a big swing or make a long throw from behind the third-base bag, but convincing his mind that his arm would stay secure in place was another story.
“It was really hard to get into a groove defensively,” Sternhagen said. “I felt like I could use my arm, but like it was just really weak.” The 2015 season was Sternhagen’s fourth playing college baseball, and third with the Yellowjackets, but since he sat out with a medical redshirt in 2014 he knew he had the 2016 season to look forward to as his senior year. “I had to realize that the recovery time of nine to twelve months was just to get back on the field, but that I wasn’t going to be at one hundred percent,” Sternhagen said. “I didn’t understand that at the time, and it was really hard, but it was a good learning experience. I never thought about quitting, but I had to go through that pain and recovery for so long.” Working with MSUB athletic trainer Tom Ebel through physical therapy, Sternhagen entered the 2015 season in good enough shape to play in 44 of MSUB’s 50 games. He received 161 at bats during the season, but the 162nd eluded him and was in many ways the one he wanted most.
Sternhagen (center) celebrates in a dogpile with teammates after the ‘Jackets won the 2015 GNAC Championship at Saint Martin’s University on May 2, 2015.
to an otherwise remarkable season.
With the Yellowjackets trailing 4-3 in the 10th inning of a GNAC Championship game against Western Oregon, their season dwindled in the balance. After losing the first game in the tournament at Dehler Park, MSUB needed a victory to avoid elimination from the championship and ultimately a bitter end
Two outs, the tying run on second base, and a scenario every hitter dreams of crept closer to becoming a reality for Sternhagen. Sporting a beard worthy of a cameo on Duck Dynasty, Sternhagen hopped up the dugout steps into the ondeck circle. But the sport that had created so many opportunities for him, some of his fondest memories from his childhood and the bonds he had with his current teammates, left him hanging. He watched as a groundout ended his team’s season, and was left to ponder what could have been if he had the chance for at-bat No. 162. THE GREAT HOME RUN CHASE Though Sternhagen didn’t get the chance for a memorable at bat at Dehler Park last May, it wouldn’t have been the first special hit at the premier ballpark in Billings. Playing American Legion baseball through high school, Dehler Park was a frequent stop for Sternhagen as he traveled with the Helena Senators in the summer to play the likes of the Billings Scarlets and Billings Royals. With the absence of high school baseball in Montana, legion ball after school got out was the lone chance for players to develop their skills. “In eighth grade when I started with the Helena Reps you went from playing around 20 games to all of a sudden playing 55, and that was really cool,” Sternhagen remembered. “You started to get the feel of what college baseball was like, with the traveling and spending time with teammates.” Making the Double A Senators as a sophomore, Sternhagen put together what was his best season at the plate with 10 home runs, and began realizing he was one step closer to competing at the next level. By his senior season in 2011,
hitting home runs had become a normal occurrence for the right-handed hitter, and he and another eventual Yellowjacket superstar, Miller, embarked on a power display unseen before at the high school level in Montana. Sternhagen tied the Billings Legion single-season home run record in a late-season tournament in Bozeman, Mont., launching his 20th long ball of the year. “I had no idea what the record was before that tournament, and I didn’t really think about it,” Sternhagen said. “Brody was hitting them too, and we were both having fun with that. We were friends so we talked about it a bit.” Miller and Sternhagen went back-and-forth in pursuit of the record, the clash of power changing hands all the way until the final weekend of the season. With five games left to play, the reality of breaking the record crept into Sternhagen’s mind. “Once I tied the record, everyone was talking to me about it and I think I started to put pressure on myself,” Sternhagen said. “We had five games left, but I just couldn’t hit one out the first four games.” The last games of the season were set as a doubleheader against the Royals at Dehler Park, and Sternhagen came just short of the record with a long double in Game 1. In his final chance of the season in the nightcap, Sternhagen ripped a deep drive over the fence in left-center, circling the bases towards his teammates awaiting at home plate with ‘21’ held up on their hands.
Sternhagen (8) is congratulated by teammates as he crosses home plate at Dehler Park after his record-breaking 21st home run his senior year with the Helena Senators.
“I had an awesome team who was really behind me, and one of the best memories I have is of them holding up 21 while I was rounding the bases,” said Sternhagen. “That was a big moment.” SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? “When Coach Bishop let me come back, he gave me tons of opportunities to play and be successful. He is a very good guy to look up to, a good mentor to follow, and handles himself very well. As a player looking at a coach, he has been very impactful.” – Colter Sternhagen on MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. Though MSUB was on Sternhagen’s map from the beginning of his college search, the concept of using the junior college route as a chance to get drafted ultimately led him to South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz. The climate in the southern United States lends itself more kindly to budding baseball stars, but Sternhagen quickly felt that the fit wasn’t right for him and contemplated a return to his home state. “One of the things we deal with in recruiting local kids is that many of them feel that they want to go out and try something different out of high school,” commented MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. “A lot of the time, they realize what our state and program can provide, and they come back with a great attitude. We will never close the door to guys in the future, and they are always fired up to be here. That’s how it was with Colter.” Sternhagen immediately felt comfortable being back in Montana, and he was reunited with many of the familiar faces he competed against in legion ball, Miller included. In his first season with the ‘Jackets, he helped the team reach the GNAC tournament as MSUB took a big step towards a winning season.
Though his sophomore season in Billings was much more comfortable than his first year in Arizona, lingering effects from overusing his shoulder began to wear on Sternhagen as he prepared for his junior season. Diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt in his second game of the 2014 season, Sternhagen’s right shoulder dislocated and he immediately knew he had suffered a serious injury. “It was so painful that I didn’t realize what had happened,” said Sternhagen, who wound up staying on base and eventually scoring. “When I got back into the dugout, someone stood about 20 feet away and told me to throw them the ball. I think I threw it 10 feet, and in my head I knew I had done something really bad.” Though it was the last throw Sternhagen made that season, the year away from the game gave him a new perspective that he had never experienced. “It was probably good in the long run, because it gave me more time to think about my playing,” Sternhagen said. “It helped me think about a lot of things, seeing the game from the dugout.” CHAMPION BALLPLAYER, CREATIVE MIND “Helping to win our first title and be successful was something I was super happy to be a part of. Getting to dogpile with the kids I grew up with was one of the best feelings ever.” – Colter Sternhagen on the Yellowjackets’ 2015 GNAC title run. Working diligently to return to the diamond in 2015, Sternhagen recovered well enough to work his name into the starting lineup for 41 games. As the ‘Jackets won 20 of their final 25 games to clinch the regular-season title, Sternhagen was able to focus on the ride of a lifetime with his teammates rather than worry about the lingering pain in his shoulder. As soon as the season ended however, Sternhagen knew that in order to have a fully healthy senior season his preparation had to start immediately. Winning the conference’s regular season title was just the first notch in the belt for Sternhagen and his teammates, as the overall goal of sustained success has driven him to have the best season he can as a senior. “I just have a lot more drive, and all of the guys just really want to win,” Sternhagen said. “The group we have this year is awesome, and our goal is definitely to get first place again this year and do better in the tournament when we get there. The next step is to get some wins in the conference tournament and try to get into a regional.” Watching Sternhagen since his days playing tee-ball at age four have been his parents Joe Sternhagen and Jami Davis, whom the senior credits with providing him with unending support throughout his career. “I always appreciated my dad for going out and working with me so much, and he gave me the tools and work ethic to become a good player,” Sternhagen said. “My mom was always supportive of me with what I was doing, and she always helped me get to camps and did whatever she could to help me succeed.” Beyond Sternhagen’s successful return to the diamond, he is wrapping up his bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on writing and music. The idea of composing music, books, and movie scripts plays into Sternhagen’s drive to do something with his career that makes him happy.
GIVE IT A RIDE, COLT Family support has been crucial to Sternhagen’s success as a ballplayer, and the chorus of cheers for No. 8 is one that extends into multiple generations. “Both sets of grandparents are always calling me or attending my games, and express how proud of me they are for what I was doing,” said Sternhagen. “That was huge for me, and I’m very close with all of them.” One of Sternhagen’s biggest fans was his grandfather Bill, who recently passed away. Among his advice for Colter was to always keep his eye on the ball, along with a special yell of encouragement that was undeniably unique. “He’d come to my games and in that silent moment right before the pitch, he’d yell, ‘give it a ride, Colt!’” said Sternhagen. “It was the only thing I’d ever hear right when the pitch was thrown.” Sternhagen ended last season disappointed in the on-deck circle, an unavoidable reality and a reminder that he’d have to wait an entire offseason before his next chance. When that chance came, Sternhagen wasted no time jumping on it. One out, top of the sixth inning. MSUB is knotted up with Holy Names University 0-0 in the 2016 season opener, and Sternhagen steps to the plate with the go-ahead run in scoring position on second base. “Give it a ride, Colt!” As his grandfather’s words echoed through his mind, Sternhagen unleashed a triple to right-center to drive in MSUB’s first run of the season. A fitting reprieve after last year’s tough ending, the senior proved a point in his first game of the season. Sternhagen is back, and better than ever.
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