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Holman is SCSU's Mr. Consistency
 Media Credit: Michael Martin/Managing Editor Mike Holman has been one of the leaders of the SCSU baseball team. He is also one of the offensive keys.
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In baseball it takes a lot to maintain a certain level of excellence. Without constant repetition, your skills become rusty and your swing looks about as solid as a tee baller's.
SCSU senior second baseman Mike Holman has brought not only consistency to the Husky baseball team; he's a player who has emerged as one of the squad's biggest stalwarts. Over the last three seasons, Holman has maintained a healthy batting average, consistent fielding and the ability for the clutch hit. In each of the past two seasons Holman has hit .325. In fact, last season he led the team in hits (37) and at-bats (114). Those numbers would have been even greater if it weren't for the shortened season. All thanks, of course, goes to the freaky Minnesota spring weather.
In 2000, Holman had a breakout year as a sophomore. He led the team with five home runs, added 32 RBI and banged out 41 hits. However, the 6'0", 183 lb. infielder from St. Cloud Tech made an immediate impact from the time he put on a Husky uniform. As a freshman he played right away, and contributed 40 hits in 1999.
Holman said that SCSU was never too far away from home, and he knew it was the right choice for him to attend the university.
"I've been around SCSU all my life," Holman said. "I always went to the football and basketball games with my dad when I was kid. I just wanted to go to a school where I knew I could have good luck. I grew up by Riverside Park, so it was never far away."
This year Holman was elected co-captain. Along with that goes a certain level of responsibility and leadership. Holman said that he was just happy to be recognized as one of the team's leaders. His senior season didn't get off to a rousing start, though. Before this week, the Huskies were off to an awful 4-14 mark, and only 2-6 in the NCC.
But this week there is more optimism in the air. SCSU handled St. John's University easily on Monday and swept Valley City State in a doubleheader on Tuesday. Holman believes this is a good sign for his club.
"We're starting to turn the corner," he said. "We just need more confidence in what we're doing. The slow start we had got into our heads. We weren't hitting or pitching consistently. In some cases, it just came down to one play. But these last three wins have helped us gain that confidence back a little."
Through Wednesday, Holman's still hitting around his .325 plateau. So far it's a .333 average, three round trippers, 13 RBI and 22 hits. But the key stat that stands out is his at-bat total. That number is 66. The reason it stands out: it leads the team. That means that SCSU relies on him for a lot of production. But it doesn't bother Holman in the slightest. He thinks his game is the perfect fit for the Huskies.
"I think I'm hexed in terms of not improving my average," Holman said."But hitting above .300 is something any baseball player should be proud of. I'm more of a gap-type, line-drive hitter. I just want to make contact and drive in some runs. Using the whole field is my biggest assett to this team."
Early in his collegiate career, Holman was ridden by SCSU head coach Denny Lorsung for his fielding. According to Holman, though, Lorsung getting on him about his glove work has made him a more complete player. This season he has committed three errors, but he still credits Lorsung for improving his concentration out in the field.
"I've taken more pride in my fielding the last couple of years," Holman said. "When I first got here, coach got on me for worrying too much about hitting and not fielding. But I've improved and gained confidence. I'm not the best fielder, but I can say I've improved every season."
Holman's goals for the team are quite simple. He wants his squad to finish strong, and have a chance at returning to the NCC tournament in mid-May. But, Mr. Consistency still wants his team to just have fun, and not be worried about winning.
"I just hope that when people look back at my four years here, they can say the teams I was a part of were successful," Holman said. "I'm not into individual praise, I'm just interested in winning. I want people to say that I kept the SCSU baseball tradition alive."
Andy Rennecke can be reached at: [email protected]
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