The music baseball players choose to play when they step up to the plate is a reflection of their personalities and has certainly become tradition at ballparks across the U.S. – including Duluth’s Wade Stadium. By: Jon Nowacki, Duluth News Tribune

A half-dozen Duluth Huskies baseball players lounged around the Wade Stadium clubhouse on Thursday, watching the latest episode of “Shark Week.”

The players were asked if Conor Szczerba was one of the biggest characters on the team, and they all nodded in unison: yep.

It’s no wonder, then, that Szczerba has had some of the most unique walk-up music in his two years with the Huskies. The music players choose to play when they step up to the plate is a reflection of their personalities and has certainly become tradition at ballparks across the U.S.

At first, Szczerba (pronounced sher-ba) was a late arrival with the Huskies in 2012. He entered the game off the bench, so Huskies music director Ted Kiefat had to scramble to come up with something quick. His friend, Huskies announcer Dave Cook, suggested “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King,” and it stuck.

“We like to come up with stuff a little different,” Kiefat said.

The song was composed by Elton John but sounds tribal, and the start is powerful, with strong vocals.

“The first time I heard it, I thought, ‘What in the heck is this?’ ” Huskies general manager Craig Smith said.

Szczerba got off to a great start with the Huskies last year and kept the song through his college season at Florida Southern (available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zLx_JtcQVI). People started calling him Simba, after the lead character in the movie.

But after an 0-for-15 stretch earlier this season for the Huskies, something had to change.

“I’m definitely superstitious, so I had to change something up,” said Szczerba, who switched his walk-up song to Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” He had a big day at the plate and that was that.

“It’s Bieber the rest of the way out,” Szczerba said, laughing. “It’s all about getting into a comfortable routine. It’s kind of a catchy song.”

Kiefat, shaking his head and then putting his hands in his face, wasn’t so sure.

“He went downhill,” Kiefat said of Szczerba. “I mean, c’mon. Bieb? Really? His mom tried to force me to change it, but I said, ‘I can’t.’ You don’t mess with the players’ songs, but how do you get your mind right listening to ‘Baby, baby, oh?’ And you can quote me on that.”

Kiefat send e-mails to all Huskies players about three weeks before the season asking what they’d like for their walk-up song, and in the case of pitchers, their warm-up song.

If Kiefat doesn’t know the tune, he finds the song and listens to it, checking for offensive language or sexual innuendo.

“When I e-mail them at the beginning of the season, I tell them, ‘You have to understand that you’re coming to the biggest small town in America, and where the average age is 60 for people sitting in the stands, so think about your musical selection,’” Kiefat said.

There is an obvious disconnect between what the 20-somethings on the field want to hear compared to the 40-somethings up in the announcer’s booth. Kiefat stays tuned into what younger people like through his son, 9-year-old Hunter.

Smith said his walk-up song would be Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” Huskies coach Daniel Hersey used to have AC/DC’s “Hells Bells,” Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” when he played. While perhaps a bit overdone, but certainly befitting a sporting event, Kiefat would go with Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle.”

“I’d keep it old school,” he explained.

Today’s players are more into pop and hip hop based on their musical selections.

“You’ve got to get the younger crowd on your side,” Szczerba insisted.

Huskies outfielder Michael Suiter steps to the plate to Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop,” Trey Vavra to Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling” and Brad Wilson to the Ying Yang Twins’ “Dangerous,” but it’s not all music from the last 10 years.

Pitcher Thomas Rogers of Cloquet warms up to Rob Zombie’s “Dragula,” Dan Schmidt steps to the plate to Neil Young’s “Old Man” and Christoph Bono walks up to The Outfield’s “Your Love,” something closer in era to his father, former NFL quarterback Steve Bono.

Add this to the usual tunes played at the ballpark, such as Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” — the Huskies preferred tune after a victory — and it’s all about having a good time.

“If it fits, and so long as we stay within the rules, we’ll play it,” Kiefat said, admitting that he often tries to razz the opponent with the songs he picks for them. “Some of these guys, I don’t know where they get this stuff. You should hear the conversations we have upstairs, but it’s all about personal preference. If it gets their mind right and they’re going to go up there and hit the ball, then game on. I’ll play white noise if it’s going to get us a win.”