What do new Mallards pitcher Scott Reese and M.C. Hammer have in common? No, it’s not the baggy pants and Reese hasn’t spent every cent he’s made selling rap albums on his friends, houses and cars. Reese and Hammer have both been batboys for the Oakland A’s.
“That’s the only thing we have in common,” joked Reese.
The Creighton Bluejays reliever was 12 when he got to be a batboy for one game. He says he didn’t know what he was doing, but he got some help from a catcher.
“Terry Steinbach could tell I had no idea what I was doing,” said Reese. “He started to joke around with me and made me feel a lot better.”
It may have been the start of a great relationship with catchers for Reese. Lightly recruited out of high school in Portland, Ore., Reese has made the most of his chance at Creighton. Reese was a preseason NCBWA First Team All-American and Collegiate Baseball Second Team pick entering this spring. This came after a 2005 season that was one for the Creighton record books. He set a school record with 37 appearances, all in relief. He also went 12-0, the only pitcher in Creighton history to have at least ten decisions without a loss. After his 2005 season, he received many awards, including NCBWA Third Team All-American.
Reese spent last summer pitching in Bend, Ore., in the West Coast Collegiate League. The 45 games allowed him to show his wares to players primarily from the WCC and Pac-10. He’s anxious to come to Madison this year and play against other talent. “Guys from our conference (Missouri Valley) will be on my team. I’m looking forward to it.”
While Reese has never been to Wisconsin, he’s heard a lot about the atmosphere at the Duck Pond. “Several of my teammates [at Creighton] have played in the Northwoods League and they’ve all said Madison is the greatest place to play.” Reese added he’s excited to play for a team that’s “always at the top.?
The Mallards open the 2006 season against the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Thursday, June 1, 2006. Single-game and group tickets are on sale now! For more information please call the Mallards ticket office at (608) 246.4277 or log onto http://www.mallardsbaseball.com.
