Take a break from hating on the Astros to appreciate baseball

By Nathan Stanish Collegian Reporter

Too many baseball fans hate on the Astros instead of focusing on the positive stories from the 2022 World Series.

After several tough battles with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Houston Astros won their second World Series. Houston celebrated, other baseball lovers moved on, but a sizable chunk of Major League Baseball fans began a familiar chorus of complaints, accusations, and references to the sign stealing scandal of 2017.

No baseball fan can deny that the Astros cheated to win the 2017 World Series. But, after 5 years and two different cheating scandals since, the hate has gotten old.

Instead of focusing on a single team’s cheating scandal from years ago, take a moment to appreciate the many moments that made this year’s World Series special.

First, the Philadelphia Phillies. Not only did the Phillies make the playoffs with their first wild card in franchise history, they won their first National League pennant since 2009 and took two games from a team that swept the Yankees. For an underdog team, that’s an incredible achievement.

Then there’s 73-year-old Dusty Baker, the current Astros manager. Prior to the 2022 season, Baker already had the 9th-most wins as a manager but not one World Series victory. Now, he’s the oldest manager to win a championship in any of the four major American sports. After nearly 30 seasons managing baseball teams, Baker can finally retire in peace.

But the greatest story of the 2022 World Series is Trey Mancini. Three years ago,

What animal do you think you could beat in a race?

I would want to race a goat. Goats eat anything, like me. They also aren't known for their speed, but they could surprise you.

Is it true you have a lucky pair of socks?

Yeah, I've had them since my junior year of high school, but a teammate of mine tore a hole in them during our last race with one of the spikes on his shoe.

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Additionally, Brubacher said the varsity sports program did not fully align with the college’s mission when he arrived.

Mancini was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer and had to miss the entire 2020 season. By 2021, he was cancer-free and back in play, and a year later, he became a World Series champion.

If the World Series should be about anybody, it should be about the first-baseman who went from cancer patient to World Series champion.

Baseball is more than a team sport, it’s a sport of individual stories. Don’t let team controversies take away from the individual stories of the 2022 World Series.

“The varsity sports program now consistently accepts the challenge of contributing as much as possible to the mission of the college,” Brubacher said. “Sports should be very much an integral part of the college itself, not its own thing that's done on the side.”

According to Brubacher, no other NCAA Division II school has Hillsdale’s academic standards or rigor.

“Our student athletes are succeeding at a very high level academically,” Brubacher said.

Gravel said Brubacher always takes the time to watch some of each team’s practices.

“The teams will all miss having a great supporter like him,” Gravel said.

Women’s basketball head coach Charlie Averkamp said Brubacher genuinely cares about others.

“He's someone who really cares about the wellbeing of the student athletes and also the coaches in the program,” Averkamp said. “He wants everyone to be successful.”

Head coach of men's and women's track and cross country Richard White said the best word to describe Brubacher is “kind.”

“He’ll always pop into my office and check on how things are going, asking how he can be of service,” White said.

Brubacher’s parting message to Hillsdale athletes is to take advantage of the opportunity to learn, grow, and prepare for the world’s challenges.

“When we look at the world around us, the challenges are just beginning,” Brubacher said. “Hillsdale students have the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills that allow them to lead in all the right ways.

I encourage the student athletes to take advantage of this opportunity.”