Q & A with freshman infielder Ronnie Bourquin – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In his first Big Ten series at Bill Davis Stadium, freshman Ronnie Bourquin made an impact at the plate. In fact, he was named Big Ten Player of the Week for his efforts after batting .643 against the Fighting Illini. He was 9-for-17, including two doubles and a home run, with five RBI and scored four runs. Bourquin was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI in the first game of a doubleheader against the Illini and in game two hit a walk-off, two-run home run, which clinched the 5-3 victory. Bourquin, who hails from Canton, Ohio, was a solid three-sport athlete at Canton South and is continuing his baseball career as a Buckeye, with aspirations of playing professionally after college.
First of all, how did it feel to have your first collegiate home run be a game-winner?
“It was great to have your first home run be a walk-off game-winner. There’s nothing better than to have that happen.”
Did you get to keep the ball?
“Yeah, some little kid found it and gave it to me.”
You had a pretty solid senior year at Canton South. How did it feel to go out with a bang?
“I wanted to go out my senior year and have the best year out of my four years. I think I was able to do that. Our team didn’t finish as well but we still had a good season. I felt I played pretty well my senior year.”
You’re listed as an infielder on the roster but do you have a favorite position to play?
“If I wasn’t the DH (designated hitter), I would want to play third. It’s the position where I feel most comfortable and where I have been playing the longest.
What do you think is your greatest strength as a baseball player?
“I think it’s at the plate. I am starting to feel a lot more comfortable.”
Did you play any other sports in high school?
“I played basketball and football, but baseball was my favorite. I played quarterback and safety in football and was the point guard on the basketball team.”
Is it true you played against LeBron James?
“Yeah, I played against him in the state semifinals at the Schottenstein Center. To play against one of the best players in the United States and probably the best player in the NBA was a really great experience. I even had to guard him, and that was tough. I had to guard the No. 1 draft pick in the NBA. It was definitely a task at hand. I remember he only had 19 points and he was averaging like 30.”
Sounds like you were pretty good. What made you decide to focus on baseball?
“I felt the body type that I have was most suitable for baseball. I also looked at the possibility of playing after college. I thought my best bet would be pursing baseball after I’m done with school.”
Does baseball run in your family?
“Yeah, it does for sure. I have been playing baseball since I was about five. My dad played in college and my brother is playing in college too. My brother is playing at Malone and that is were my dad played. It’s a NAIA school in Canton. I have been going to games for as long as I can remember.”
What about Ohio State appealed to you when you were being recruited?
“Growing up in Canton and close to Columbus, I had always wanted to be a Buckeye. When the opportunity came, I didn’t want to let it slip by. It was a pretty easy decision to come here.”
As a freshman, do you look up to the seniors and have they helped you adjust?
“I’m friends with a lot of the upperclassmen. They have done a really good job of showing us the ropes and helping us out.”
What are the strengths of the team this season and what are some of your goals?
“I definitely thought going into the season our biggest strength would be our offense. We had a lot of our hitters back. We have a lot of good freshmen on the team that help with that. We also have a lot of good pitchers that are started to pitch well. As far as me personally, I just want to play as best as I can. It’s a big change to jump from high school to Division I college. The speed of the game is a lot quicker. Sitting at third, balls come at you a lot faster than they did in high school. Instead of facing a good pitcher once every two weeks, you see one every game. I just want to try to be consistent all year long.”
What other hobbies are you interested in?
“I like to hang out with my friends, play PlayStation and watch movies. My favorite game is NCAA Football or Tiger Woods. I think my favorite recent movie is ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ It’s a good movie.”
What is your favorite Major League team?
“I would say the Cleveland Indians. When the Indians made it to the World Series in 1995, I went to a couple games at Jacobs Field. The atmosphere there was unbelievable. It was awesome. I watch them on TV all the time too.”
