In The Dugout – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2003
When the Ohio State baseball team prepares for practice, Christian Snavely has to make a decision. The decision has nothing to do with what uniform he is going to wear or which ball cap he is going to sport. Instead, he has to decide which glove to bring out to the field. As a platoon player, many times Snavely has no idea which position he will be playing that day.
“It’s tough some times,” Snavely said. “I have to borrow gloves because I don’t bring all of them with me. I just have to get out there and get comfortable wherever I’m at.”
“His locker is full of gloves and he doesn’t know which one to bring to practice,” Bob Todd, head coach, said.
The junior from Defiance, Ohio, has played four positions in three years. As a freshman, Snavely built a reputation as one of the more clutch performers in the Big Ten conference and was named Louisville Slugger honorable-mention Freshman All-American. Mostly entering the game as a pinch hitter, Snavely finished the season with a .307 batting average, eight home runs and 39 runs batted in and carried a .339 BA with six home runs and 20 RBI in Big Ten games.
In Snavely’s sophomore campaign, he started all 57 games in which he played, all at second base and finished second on the team batting a .360 average. He garnered Second Team All-Big Ten honors, tied for the team lead with 81 total hits and had 23 multiple-hit games.
Snavely was voted to be a captain by his teammates for the 2003 season, which is a commendable honor for a junior. He joins three senior pitchers in the leadership role.
“To me it is a great honor to be voted by your teammates,” Snavely said. “We have had great leadership the two years I was an underclassman. I learned from the previous captains about what it takes to be a leader and to win. Good leadership, enthusiasm and team chemistry are all part of winning.” Playing baseball also helps, but for Snavely, as far as this season is going, he never knows where to line up at. In the first game he started off in left and halfway through the game moved to third. Then, the next two games he played first. As of now Snavely is playing third until Terry Pettorini’s arm recovers.
“To be honest with you, it doesn’t matter to me where I play, as long as I’m not catching,” Snavely quipped. “I’ve been a platoon guy since I’ve been here. I’m kind of used to it by this point. Wherever they want me, I’ll go and play.”
A good example of why Snavely was voted a captain is his attitude toward the situation.
“Everybody on this team has a role,” Snavely said. “Finding that role is important. If I can lead by example and show others what they have to do for us to win, then I have done my job.”
With someone like Snavely leading the team, they are heading for great places.
