Clay Rolf always wanted to play college
baseball.His goal became a reality last week.The former Eastwood High School
standout joined the Bowling Green Falcon baseball team for the first time.But
the 6-foot-6, 285-pounder is no stranger to Falcon athletics. He’s a tight end
on the Falcon football team and he’s already played two seasons in that
sport.Rolf began baseball practice last week as he attempts to earn playing time
as a first baseman or designated hitter."I just want to go out have fun,
compete and do whatever I can to help the team win," said Rolf, who hit
.621 as senior at Eastwood in 2010. He also had eight home runs and 39 runs
batted in.Rolf was recruited to play both sports by the Falcons. He red-shirted
as a freshman with the football team in the fall of 2010. He then played in five
games as a sophomore last fall, catching one pass, a 23-yard reception against
Morgan State.Shortly after the football season ended Nov. 25, he decided he
wanted to play baseball for the Falcons.Baseball coach Danny Schmitz and
football coach Dave Clawson then met 10 days ago to work out the final details
of Rolf’s playing both. His No. 1 priority remains football."The agreement
with football was, his freshman year, he would be all football and as long as he
took care of business, not only from the football side but the academic side,
that coach Clawson would give him his blessing and let him play baseball as a
sophomore," Schmitz said. "He knows his number one priority is
football and we’re fine with that."As a senior, Rolf also had 26 runs
scored, seven doubles, and three triples. He struck out just six times, while
drawing 19 walks and being hit by the pitch seven times. He was the team’s No. 1
pitcher, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.59 earned-run average. He struck out 55
in 47 2/3 innings."I was hoping to get the chance to play baseball because
it’s something I’ve always loved to do, and coach Clawson gave me the green
light," Rolf said.The left-hand hitter is attractive because he hits for
average and for power. He has a strong arm and runs well for his size. He stole
13 bases in 15 attempts as a senior at Eastwood."We had a chance to see him
play in high school and he has tremendous athletic ability," Schmitz said.
"He’ll be a real nice addition to our team. He’s great kid from a great
family."As soon as Rolf decided to play baseball, he started hitting on his
own. Official practices begin Jan. 27 under NCAA rules, although schools can
hold limited team and individual workouts until then.His decision to play was
eased by the fact he already was friends with some of the members of the
baseball team."I’ve felt good and it’s just a matter of getting more and
more reps and competing," Rolf said. "I’ve been able to feel
comfortable pretty quickly."The Falcons return junior Andrew Kuns and
sophomore Jeremy Shay at first, but Kuns is recovering from an illness. If Rolf
can help the team offensively, BG will find a spot for Rolf in the lineup.BG hit
just .275 and averaged only 5.16 runs per game last season en route to records
of 20-31 overall and 11-14 in the Mid-American Conference. The team hit just 20
homers."He’s already shown a lot of improvement," Schmitz said.
"Hitting is like riding a bike. Once you learn how to do it, you don’t
forget how. The more swings he gets, he’ll keep improving. He works hard and
he’s eager to learn."The biggest challenge for Rolf so far has been finding
a uniform big enough. Since none of the team’s current uniforms fit him, so BG
had to order one specifically for him."We expect him to compete and that’s
why we brought him out here," Schmitz said. "The best guys are going
to play and everyone is going to get an opportunity. It’s what you do with that
opportunity."Rolf already is having a busy semester. He conditions and
works out with the football team in the morning, attends class from 11 a.m.-2:30
p.m. and then heads to baseball practice until approximately 4:30 p.m.The
Falcons begin their 52-game baseball schedule Feb. 18 with games against Kansas
and St. Louis in Tennessee. Rolf also will compete in BG’s spring football
practices."I shouldn’t have any problems with it," said Rolf, who has
a 3.0 grade-point average in middle childhood education. "The schedules
worked out perfectly. It’s a matter of being organized in terms of getting every
done academically."