The late Herb Brooks once said teams can’t win on talent alone.
Mike Brabender, outfielder for the Winona State University baseball team, is a prime example of Brooks’ point.
It’s not that Brabender doesn’t have talent, because he does, otherwise he wouldn’t be on the team that won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament last season and a team projected to contend for the conference title this season.
The key to Brabender’s success is simple: Work hard, play hard and get results.
Brabender doesn’t start, but will step up when called upon.
On March 6, WSU played North Dakota, and Brabender was put in as a defensive replacement in the later innings of a tight battle.
With two runners on and one out, Brabender delivered a two-run double.
“I knew I had to put the ball in play,” Brabender said. “I couldn’t strike out and leave the guys hanging because we had a hit and run on.”
Brabender said he has seen improvement in his game from last season, mostly in his strength and speed.
He said strength training and conditioning wasn’t something he took advantage of in the past, but he’s now reaping the benefits.
“I worked hard on getting stronger during the offseason,” he said. “It wasn’t something I took seriously before, but I got in with a good group of guys and hit the weights hard.”
Brabender said he considered himself a contact hitter before, but with the added muscle mass he has gained this season, he has seen some more pop at the plate.
“I have seen a big improvement on my hitting,” he said. “I’m able to hit some gaps now.”
WSU coach Kyle Poock said he likes the effort Brabender brings to the Warriors.
“He is one guy that works his butt off for you,” Poock said. “He has the strength and speed, but also works hard on top of that.”
With his offense improving, Brabender is still looking for ways to improve his already stellar defensive play.
In 25 games last season, Brabender committed only one error and had a fielding percentage of .909.
So far this season, Brabender has a clean slate in the outfield.
“I want to end the season with no errors,” Brabender said. “Want to make the right throws and keep the ball in front of me at all times.”
While he hit .353 last year, he’s still trying to find ways to improve at the plate.
So far, so good this season: Brabender is hitting .417 with a slugging percentage of .750.
“I want to keep my average above .300 this season,” he said. “I would also like to cut down the number of strikeouts I had last season as well.”
Brabender’s play this year has gotten him more playing time and instilled some confidence in his coach.
“I have no problem putting him out there in any situation,” Poock said.
WSU took on conference foe Southwest Minnesota State at the Metrodome last weekend in a four-game series.
The first game featured NSIC preseason pitcher of the year Bryan Ruff, who did not disappoint, allowing no earned runs on just one hit, while striking out seven and walking one to lead WSU to a 5-1 victory.
“It was important,” Poock said. “He pitched a good game and we got him his first win of the season, which will help him out.”
WSU surrendered a 2-0 lead in the second game, allowing the Mustangs to score four runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth to seal a 6-3 victory.
The third game was not looking good for the Warriors, who gave up six runs in the first to put themselves in a huge hole.
WSU was able to claw back and win the game 9-8.
“The guys just hung in there and got back in the game as we went along,” Poock said.
The finale was not a happy ending for WSU, once again watching the Mustangs take an early lead after the first inning, scoring three runs and not allowing WSU to come back.
Poock thought WSU’s offense was unable to find any rhythm during the series.
“A lot of guys just couldn’t get anything going,” Poock said. “We’d get a hit here and there, but that was it.”
Ronnie Olson went 3-for-4 in the series finale, scoring three runs and driving in three.
“He was the one who hit well,” Poock said. “Kept us going for the weekend.”
WSU (7-6, 2-2) has a nonconference game against Minnesota-Duluth tomorrow at home and four games this weekend against Northern State, which doesn’t have an NSIC win this season.