Picture: GRB Academy
The Jefferson Eagles had one of the most dominant seasons in state history last year, finishing the season with a 28-3 record and a WIAA Division 2 state championship. Nick Schrader, the Eagles’ shortstop, played a big role in the team’s success. He posted a .462 batting average, hit 12 doubles, and tallied 27 RBIs. In the summer, he plays for the Pro Player Canes, a travel team based out of Illinois. Schrader committed to play college baseball at Western Illinois University shortly after capturing the state title. I spoke with him about his team’s historic season last spring, his commitment to WIU, and more.
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Spencer Flaten: Last year at Jefferson, you guys had one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory, and ultimately ended up with a state championship. Just talk about last spring’s team a little bit.
Nick Schrader: Our 2014 Jefferson team worked together as one big unit. We always had each other’s backs, on and off the field. This made for a dominant baseball family. We knew that when adversity was thrown our way we had the strength to overcome all challenges. We always kept our eyes on the ultimate goal- the Division 2 state title. We cared about each other and it showed.
SF: What was it like getting your first taste of state tournament baseball?
NS: It was intense and an unbelievable experience. As a team, we played hard together all season with the intent of experiencing state tournament baseball. It was a dream come true for me personally that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
SF: Individually you had a great year. You were second on the team in batting average, tied for first in extra base hits, and third in RBIs. What do you think has contributed to your success on the field?
NS: I work hard during the off-season, especially the winter off-season, in preparation for the start of spring baseball in March every year. My work ethic gets me up at 5 A.M. to get my tee work in before school. I make sure I am taking time to get in the fundamentals and the basics as part of my routine. This gives me a very consistent high level of play.
SF: When did Western Illinois first contact you during the recruiting process?
NS: I was contacted by Coach Brownlee early in the recruiting process in the fall of my junior year.
SF: What made you want to become a Leatherneck and play for Coach Brownlee at WIU?
NS: Coach Brownlee is an awesome coach. The atmosphere of Leatherneck Baseball caught my eye the first time I visited. The commitment and intensity of both the coaching staff and the players put WIU on the top of my list.
SF: Western Illinois is not necessarily known for bringing Wisconsinites into their program (there are no Wisconsin natives on this year’s roster). How did you get their attention? Did playing with the Pro Player Canes help in that regard?
NS: I played in many Chicago Scouts Association events with Pro Player Canes throughout the Chicagoland area. These events offered great opportunities to be seen by scouts from across the nation. I was very fortunate to be invited to these events, and even more fortunate to have made positive contact with many coaches, but to have ultimately made contact with the WIU coaching staff.
SF: You guys lost a lot of really good players to graduation after last season, and thanks to being state champions you’ll have a target on your back all season long. What are your expectations for this spring?
NS: We will have good leadership from the senior class. Our strengths are deep, as we are returning numerous starters from last year’s state championship team. Not to mention the dominant season last year by our JV team, as these players will bring their talents to the varsity level to compete for the open varsity positions. It is going to be a great season. We will need to work hard and keep our goals high. [We will take it] one thing at a time, starting with the Rock Valley North Conference Championship. From there, every day is a new day in hopes of repeating our journey back to Appleton.
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