The Linfield baseball team is smooth.

 

Going back to back with national championship wins is a difficult feat to accomplish.  But the Linfield baseball team knows what they need to do to stay loose and make it happen.

 

As infield/outfield drills bring warm-ups to an end, and the players head to their respective dugouts, a song comes on the PA system.  It’s not the typical pump-up song one would usually connect with sporting events.  No, it’s the 90s summer classic “Follow Me” by Uncle Kracker, one of the wildcat’s favorites.

 

The acoustic guitar begins to strum and the hands of 26 baseball payers start to clap in rhythm.

 

“You don’t know how you met me, you don’t know why you can’t turn around and say goodbye.”

 

As the words are sung and the clapping continues, the boys show just how loose they are as dancing becomes the team’s true sport.

 

“When that song plays, we get a little dance circle goin’ on, and I’m a fan of that,” said junior pitcher Joe Stevick.

 

Every member of the Linfield baseball team brings his own style to center stage.  Where Corey VanDomelen and Jackson Ruckert go for the modern hip-hop style, Chris Haddeland claims to be the best swing dancer while Zach Manley and Zach Brandon battle it out to be the best overall.

 

“We have some guys on the team that you might like to call they actually ‘have talent’ but I took a modern dance class,” said Brandon, a senior pitcher for the Wildcats.  “And I think it’s translated well to on the mound.”

 

“Yeah, he took a modern dance class but he needed it to keep up with me,” countered Manley, a fellow senior pitcher.  “Our hips are both live.”

           

“Follow me everything is alright, I’ll be the one to keep you up at night.”

 

Dancing isn’t the only thing one would see when arriving at Roy Helser field for a baseball game in McMinnville, Ore. Pre-game rituals including senior pitcher Justin Huckins shouting “Let’s go to work,” last minute wardrobe changes, special meals and extravagant handshakes take place in front of the dugout down the first base line.

           

“Corey VanDomelen and I probably have the best handshake in the country,” said junior outfielder Jackson Ruckert.

           

Their combination of hand movements, high-fives, chest bumps and dance moves is just one of the many handshakes that occur before the first pitch of every game.

           

“Kenny Johnson and Jo Carroll have one that’s directed toward me,” said Nate McClellan.  “And I don’t think it’s in a positive way.”

           

After all is said and done: hands are shook, energy drinks are drank, jersey’s are finally put on and Uncle Kracker’s voice slowly fades out; the team heads in to their dugout, ready to “win every aspect.”
           

“And if you wanna leave I can guarantee you won’t find nobody else like me.”

 

The Wildcats are currently 27-3 in their journey back to Appleton.