The Hopkins baseball team swept the Franklin and Marshall (F&M) College Diplomats in a doubleheader at home on April 16. The Blue Jays trailed in the bottom of the sixth inning 6-3; however, junior left fielder Matthew Cooper hit a monster home run to gain the team’s winning point with a final score of 7-6.
In the second game, junior right fielder Sam Frank extended the Blue Jays’ lead in the third inning with a homer extending the score to 4-2. Hopkins won the second game 13-6 following another hit and score by Frank.
The News-Letter spoke with Frank, who is this week’s Athlete of the Week.
The News-Letter: How did you stay composed performing at a high level in a doubleheader sweep and what was going through your head?
Sam Frank: Our team places a huge emphasis on being present in the moment when we play. Staying composed is much easier when you’re focused on each pitch because it keeps your head clear and the game slows down.
N-L: Coming off a tough loss to Gettysburg College on April 15, how did the team adjust coming into a doubleheader against F&M?
SF: A huge part of baseball is having a short memory. We know we did not play anywhere close to our potential against Gettysburg on that Friday, and we also knew F&M was coming into Babb Field [as] the only undefeated team in the conference. We didn't necessarily adjust anything; we just recognized that we had to play our A game in order to beat F&M, and luckily we did just that.
N-L: The team has had a strong season so far, and just swept the previously undefeated leader in the conference in a doubleheader. How will you all keep this momentum going?
SF: Our big focus on keeping the momentum going is to keep bringing positive energy every day. We play our best when we're flying around and having fun. If we have fun, we win.
N-L: What has been your favorite moment so far from your career here at Hopkins?
SF: The best moment in my Hopkins career so far has been going to the college World Series last year during an abbreviated COVID-19 season. Our team went through any number of trials and tribulations last year and to overcome all of it and still get to Iowa was something awesome to experience.
N-L: What are some of your personal goals and what are some of the team’s goals for the remainder of the season?
SF: Personally, my only goal is to help the team any way I can. Baseball is a game best played selflessly because when you start playing for yourself instead of your team things start to break down. As a team our goal never changes. We want to win the conference and the national championship every year. This year is no different!
