Q & A: Scott Lantis

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Q & A: Scott Lantis

Scott Lantis is the co-captain of the Hillsdale College baseball team. He is a junior studying marketing, born and brought up right here in Hillsdale County.

So what happened last night at Wayne State?

Coming into today, we had lost three consecutive one-run games. Just heart breakers — three in a row last weekend. So the first game of the double-header today, sure enough, we lost by one run. Again, it kind of got to the point that we’ve gotten so close, but we just couldn’t get over the hump. And then finally, in the second game of the double-header today against a very good Wayne State team, Wayne State usually finishes in the top three in the conference, we pulled it together and won 5-4. So it’s a very emotional win, a very exciting win. So hopefully this will catapult us into a rally and make a run the next couple of weeks. We got a lot of great play out of some young freshman.

What was the best play of the night?

Freshman pitcher Colin Casey threw three innings of shut out baseball and picked up the game ball with his first collegiate win as a pitcher. Without a doubt that was the highlight of the night. In his second appearance of the year, a freshman, against a tough Wayne State team, he came in in a relief situation.

So why do you play baseball?

Baseball is America’s past time. I’ve loved it since I was a boy. I started playing at age six. I’ve played it every spring and summer since – 15 years. I love Hillsdale College. It has the combination of the best academic school in Division II and the sport that I love. It was a good fit for me.

What was the best moment since you’ve been here?

Best moment was freshman year – we had a season-ending sweep of Tiffin Univerity. We won four games in a row. We came together as a team and everyone played very well. It was very thrilling to win. It’s a lot more fun when you win. Definitely the highlight.

What are you involved in for leadership, and what have you learned in terms of leadership?

I’m involved in leadership in terms of Athlete InterVarsity. I’m on the leadership team intervarsity. I’m the vice president of SAAC — Student Athlete Advisory Committee. I’m co-captain on the charger baseball team.

In terms of leadership here at Hillsdale College, there are two pillars or philosophies that I try to operate on. The first is accomplishing the mission, whatever that may be. That’s having a consistent vision, which for Charger baseball is making it into the GLIAC tournament. So having a consistent vision to what the ultimate goal is.

The second is taking care of your people while accomplishing the mission, whether that be a team mate or a fellow Athlete InterVaristy member. Baseball is just a sport. It’s not who we are, it’s what we do. So getting to know your teammates and helping them through all kinds of crazy things that happen in college. Some of that I learned from Dr. Blackstock’s leadership. If leadership were easy, everyone would understand how to do it and politics would be easy. But you’ve got to be able to deal with people and accomplish the mission.

— Compiled by T. Elliot Gaiser