For Love of the Game

   Considering how much baseball that Rogers’ Mountaineers versatile senior Seth White has played the past couple of years, there's no denying he's quite passionate about the game. Likewise, it's apparent that White is very focused on taking his game to another level.
   White, who received and gladly accepted an offer from Arkansas Tech (Russellville) to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level following his high school graduation from Rogers later this spring, spent back-to-back summers honing his skills with the Midwest Nationals and Nebraska Sluggers.
   "It was the Premier League Baseball and the Midwest Baseball League," White noted. "I played up on the 18-year-old teams (this past summer). The game speed is so much faster. It was a great experience and I played with some great guys."
    While maintaining a very busy schedule playing so many games in recent years, White also put in extra training time at a Nike Sports Test event and worked on becoming a more well-rounded batter with his hitting instructor, Rodney Nye, providing insights. White has utilized an instructional video as well for tips on helping make himself a better player.
   Mountaineers longtime baseball head coach Dr. Tom Woodruff isn't surprised at White's virtually non-stop efforts to hone his skills. "You're not going to find a harder worker than Seth," Woodruff assured. "That's shown as he's gotten better each and every year.
   "He really studies the game. He's very coachable. And, he just works so hard to improve."
   White may not necessarily need to make a whole lot of improvements from an offensive standpoint as he seems to be right at home and quite comfortable in the batters box. "I have a lot of confidence (hitting the baseball)," White said without any reservations whatsoever. "I think you also have to be a little bit cocky. If you don't step into the batter's box and believe you're going to get a hit … you have to want it."
   Woodruff says, "Seth's forte is his hitting. He is a good contact hitter. We are expecting him to be one of our top performers (offensively)."
   Defensively, meanwhile, White provides Woodruff and his staff with a number of options since he's capable of playing nearly every position around the diamond. "Seth is one of those guys where if we need an extra infielder, he'll come in and play wherever you need him," Woodruff said. "We also know he's going to get some playing time in the outfield."
   By the time he treks off to college, White figures to primarily play in the outfield. Nonetheless, he knows there's a plus in being able to rotate across any number of positions. "I play everywhere but first base," White said. "It helps you get playing time."
   Lack of playing time certainly isn't something White will have to be concerned about as he concludes his prep playing days with the Mounties. In fact, Woodruff is not counting on White solely for his solid baseball skills, but he's also expecting this workaholic senior mainstay to showcase his strong leadership abilities as well.
   "I told Seth that he is such a good leader and so knowledgeable about the game that it's like having another coach on the team," Woodruff said. "He anticipates things before they happen. He serves as an on-the-field coach."
   It isn't difficult at all to see that White has much more than just a fly-by-night interest in not only playing baseball, but doing so to the very best of his ability. As Woodruff says of White, "He has a passion for the game."

 
 

SIDE BAR WHITE STORY
 

   True to form, White showed his tremendous offensive capabilities almost immediately when the Mountaineers opened their 2008 season in late February.
   White, who is obviously a polished hitter, apparently needed very little time to shake off the cobwebs from his winter break while managing three hits to spark Rogers' season-opening 7-5 victory over a perennially tough Pine Bluff squad. A timely base hit by White in the sixth proved decisive.
   Although this Mountaineer’s mainstay and future Arkansas Tech baseball player has a knack for hitting, he admits that for him it's only natural to get more pumped when facing a top-notch flame-thrower, whereas going against a somewhat average hurler isn't nearly as enticing.
   “When you face a better pitcher you'll tend to be more focused," White suggested. On the other hand… "When it's a weak pitcher there isn't as much excitement," White confided.
   Regardless of who his opponent on the mound happens to be, White seemingly thrives in any situation and perhaps even more so when the count appears to have him just about down and out.
   "I can always make contact," White assured. "I'm not afraid to swing the bat on a two-strike pitch."
   It might actually be somewhat ironic that 10 years or so after he initially took up playing baseball, White has become such a dangerous hitter, particularly since that wasn't necessarily his greatest asset at a younger age.
   "I was more of a fielder when I was nine or 10 years old," White recalled. "And, for whatever reason, I made the switch (to eventually being a better hitter). It kind of made me mad (being told he wasn't much of a threat at the plate)."
   As White put it in perspective how his mindset to be a big-time batter eventually paid off, he referenced bible scriptures to explain the thought process. "Matthew 5:6 talks about how those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be blessed," White said. "You can't go up to the plate just hoping to get a hit. There has to be a hunger and thirst for it."
   Without a doubt, White has that burning desire when he stands at home plate with a bat on his shoulders, ready to go one-on-one with the opposition flame-thrower.
   "I like playing defense, but it's (offense) the best part of the game," White assured. "It's just me and him (opposing pitcher) and it's always great when you have a chance to get a hit and bring in a run. Whenever the game's on the line, I want to be at the plate."
   The chances are typically going to be quite favorable that when White is in such a position, he'll come through in the clutch. He's obviously done so many times in the past and likely will again and again in the future as well. 
   Individually, there's no doubt whatsoever that White plays a leading role for Rogers. Even so, it's the Mountaineers team as an entire unit that White hopes will mesh together and ultimately make a big splash in postseason play. "I think we'll have a chance to be real good," White predicted. "I think we'll be solid defensively and our offense will come around, too."
   After what he hopes will be an extended high school season, White won't have his summer packed quite like he has the past two years. He is looking forward to playing American Legion Baseball with his hometown Rogers’ team as well, before finally heading south to Russellville late this summer.