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Rough Riders’ Wilson honored
In his first college baseball outing, Logan Wilson learned the meaning of a long inning.
Thirteen runs allowed. One out recorded.
His next appearance, a March 21 start against Western Nebraska, was also difficult. He held the opponent to just two hits but allowed eight walks, and 11 runs scored, in two innings of work.
But Wilson’s coaches and teammates at Luna Community College didn’t give up on him. They patted him on the back and told him to quickly put that rough start in his rear-view mirror. They told him they knew he was better than that and encouraged him to focus on the next opportunity.
He did.
Wilson started this past Sunday’s game two against McCook (Neb.) Community College, and he dominated the Indians for his second pitching win of the spring, holding them to three hits with six strikeouts over seven complete innings in a 2-0 shutout. That performance resulted in recognition as National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Pitcher of the Week for March 22-28.
“With me, pitching has never been a physical issue,” he said. “It’s all mental … (After those tough initial games), my teammates would show me that they got me. My teammates had my back. So did my coaches … They made me believe in myself.”
Catcher Milo Behrens, first baseman Dusty Sipe and closing pitcher K.T. Gearlds each spoke to Wilson and offered reassuring words: “They told me they’ve been in my shoes before and they told me not to let it get to me … Milo was telling me how I need to go out and attack the new inning, and keep my mind in the game … It was very inspirational.”
Having a short memory and knowing what to hold on to and what to let go is invaluable to a pitcher in particular. Not getting too rattled by a bad game or too pumped up by a good one is something the even-keeled Wilson has been known for, and the reinforcement from his Rough Rider teammates only helped him get ready for the next one.
“Logan is a great kid and has a really bright future as long as he continues to work hard,” said Luna head coach T.C. Nusser. “Logan really competes really well and handles pressure well. One thing I like about Logan is he could have a bad game or he could have a great game, and after the game you can’t tell. He handles his emotions well.”
That character trait has certainly come in handy over the past year, as the Rough Riders and many others across the planet have had to cope with curveballs served up by the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-related cancellations and disruptions have meant a series of ongoing adjustments and adaptations – a strike zone that is constantly changing, to put it in baseball terms.
“Our coaches were honest with us from the beginning,” Wilson said. “They told us it could be a roller coaster ride – and it has been. But they promised us they were going to fight for our season … What they’ve told us is to keep working hard. Every week, it doesn’t matter so much how you do. What matters is how you prepare – your thought process, every movement, every throw.”
“All this COVID thing has just brought the team closer together,” he said. “Our coaches say just keep giving it 110 percent.”
“What my coaches have said, it’s like my dad always told me: ‘Baseball is life.’ You learn lessons from the game and use it in a bigger way in life.”
Wilson’s journey to Luna and junior college baseball from the Big Island of Hawaii, where he learned from high school coach Tony Desa in two integral years, was made possible by networking and his performance in a California showcase event. Nusser learned Wilson could throw in the 80s and it led to an offer. “I didn’t really have offers, so I jumped on it,” Wilson recalled. “I’m glad I did.”
Saying that he hasn’t been the most academically oriented student-athlete, Wilson said he is majoring in liberal arts with an interest in firefighting. He said he has appreciated the individualized attention and genuine concern his instructors have shown him and others.
“I like it,” he said. “It allows me to build on those (academic) skills and also play baseball. My professors show they care about you; some will call us and make sure we’re doing our stuff. Even my math teacher (Dan Gonzales) from last semester, and I’m not even in that class anymore; he has checked up on me to see how I’m doing. I think it’s great.”
While Las Vegas, N.M., is thousands of miles and multiple time zones away from home for Wilson, he said he took a quick liking to his adopted hometown. “I like the town,” he said. “I like the whole vibe. It’s like back home. The only thing is that there’s no ocean.”