Staff writer
Warrior cleanup hitter Brian Fruechting has been invited by a team organized by the American Council of International Studies to play baseball in the Dominican Republic this summer.
Fruechting could join a team of players ages 18 and younger —primarily from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma — that would spend 10 days, starting the first week of August, traveling around the Dominican Republic.
Fruechting said that the main purpose of the trip is educational: he would immerse himself in the culture and history of the Dominican Republic, taking tours, tasting local delicacies, and meeting people.
“Their goal is to be goodwill ambassadors,” Kevin Fruechting, Brian’s father said. “They will go check out how kids live.”
But, baseball is a part of Dominican culture and the team will experience the Dominican baseball tradition from the ground up. The ACIS team will play teams with limited access to equipment — a piece of cardboard with a string around it acts as a glove on many Dominican fields — and play on fields that are literally sandlots.
“We’re going to be playing on some pretty run down fields,” Brian said.
The team will also see the other side of Dominican baseball: the players who have been enrolled in baseball academies and play year-round. Players who have been given a sliver of hope of reaching the major leagues like Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez, and other standout Dominican players who have come before them. Brian would play at least one game at the Olympic Field in Santiago against baseball academy competition.
“We’ll see kids who could be in the major leagues,” Brian said.
Not that Brian hasn’t worked hard himself. He’s one of four Marion High School athletes who will have started on the Warrior baseball team all four years of his career. He plays baseball starting in March until the beginning of football season in August. In the summer, Brian plays for an American Legion team in Junction City and a Babe Ruth team in Hillsboro.
“I have a love for the game,” Brian said. “I’ve been playing since I’ve been 6 or 7 years old.”
Last year, Brian hit almost .500 for the Junction City team.
He can perform a variety of tasks for a baseball team. He plays both corner infield positions, with a preference for first. He is a starting pitcher with a four-pitch repertoire. He can hit for power — he hit two home runs last year for Marion — but doesn’t strike out: only two last year for the Warriors. He can steal a base or two when he sees the opportunity.
Brian started working with Shane Sieben, a baseball coach in Mahattan on Saturday to prepare for the season. Brian and Sieben have worked together for years and have perfected Brian’s swing.
“That’s a swing that will work at the college level,” Kevin said.
Sieben used to coach the ACIS team and recommended Brian to the team.
Brian has also earned a baseball scholarship to play at Cloud County Community College that will cover his tuition and his books.
However, the trip to the Dominican is not free. It will cost the Fruechtings approximately $3,000 for a plane ticket and lodging at a hotel. According to NCAA rules, the Fruechtings have to pay for the trip. They are asking the community for help covering the expenses.
For Brian the best part of the trip would be representing his country.
“I’ve heard that there’s no more fun or good feeling than walking through an airport wearing team USA shirts,” he said.