TMN
News 36
Detours
KTRM
Myers helps bring ‘Dogs win
Senior Devon Myers takes to the plate at home against Missouri Western last Saturday. Following a single up the middle during the third inning, Myers became Truman State’s all-time hits record holder. Hanna Bilinski/Index
The Truman State baseball team swept Maryville University during a two game series April 24, winning 2-1 and 8-3, respectively. However, the sweep was outshined by an individual performance that made Bulldog history.
During the bottom of the fourth inning during game one against the Saints, senior catcher Devon Myers hit a solo home run to tie Patrick Hardin’s school record of 191 hits. Then, during the bottom of the third inning during the second game of the doubleheader, Myers broke the record with a single up the middle — making him the sole holder of the Truman State University all-time hits record.
Myers has started at least 43 games for the ’Dogs every season since his freshman year, which he says coincides with the goal he had when he chose Truman — to make an immediate impact and help to turn the program around. Head coach Dan Davis said Myers’ early career experience is invaluable.
“When you can get the young guys innings when they are young, it really pays off down the road,” Davis said. “We saw that with Devon and [senior] Steven Rose, who went through tough times as a freshman and now they are starting to pay off.”
Myers leads the team with 18 RBI’s and four home runs and said chasing the record hasn’t affected his play this season.
“I didn’t know anything about [Truman baseball] records or any of the history until recently,” Myers said. “The thing I’ve concentrated on is taking the season game by game and trying not to look at anything related to the record; just trying to do whatever it takes to help the team in the process.”
But Myers’ milestone wasn’t the only exciting news for ’Dogs baseball this weekend. Before sweeping Maryville and improving their record to 16-26, Truman played a four game series against Missouri Western during the weekend.
“This is the way we want them to always play at this time of year,” Davis said. “I honestly think our guys can play with anyone in the country.”
After dropping the final game Saturday by a score of 11-1, Davis said he feared the team had lost motivation. However, the next day, as the Bulldogs trailed by three runs heading into the bottom of the 9th, they rallied to score four runs in the inning.
The comeback was capped off by freshman Paul Trenhaile’s walk-off sacrifice fly to score senior Weston Lewis. Junior Jordan Howe said it was exciting to celebrate on their home field after the come-from-behind win.
“It was by far the most fun I’ve had on a baseball field since I came to Truman,” Howe said. “It was cool that we were the last team on the field and we were able to run out at celebrate.
Davis said he was proud of his players and the level at which they played.
“To see their reaction when they had success was just amazing,” Davis said. “This will go down as one of the all-time greatest comebacks in my 16-year coaching career.”
Truman won the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader after losing the first game of the series 5-0 Friday night.
Davis said he’s happy with the way the ‘Dogs are playing and hopes it will continue as the ’Dogs host Pittsburg State this weekend, with double headers scheduled Saturday and Sunday.
“The mindset has to be that we’re going to play our own game, we’re not going to play the name on the jersey,” Davis said. “If the better team always won, then why bother playing the game?”
