Cody Hafeli, Mike Rainbolt and Mitchell Bonds all became Gorloks in the 2012 season, transferring to Webster University from Kankakee Community College (Ill.)
As seniors on the Webster baseball team, this was their fourth year playing collegiate baseball together. And after a 7-2 loss to the University of Southern Maine on Sunday, May 26 in the Division III College World Series, the three are finished with their college baseball careers.
Hafeli was the starting pitcher for the Gorloks in their third game of the College World Series against Southern Maine, which turned out to be Webster’s final game of the year. Hafeli said there were many great memories from his two years at Webster.
“Being able to win a regional (tournament) twice, especially with my roommates since we played four years of ball together,” Hafeli siad. “I mean, there is nothing like that feeling knowing you’ve accomplished all that.”
Including the trio from Kankakee, Webster will be without eight seniors from the 2013 roster next season.
JOSH SELLMEYER INTERVIEWS BILL KURICH AFTER THE SOUTHERN MAINE GAME
A few seniors have left their mark in the Webster history books:
—Outfielder Cody Stevenson: Most games played, at-bats, runs scored, triples, stolen bases; third-most hits in a career.
—Outfielder Alex Kazmierski: eighth-most home runs in a career.
—Pitcher Steven Dooley: Most appearances; second-most wins and strikeouts in a career.
JOSH SELLMEYER INTERVIEWS CODY HAFELI
“Steven Dooley is gonna have his name on the wall in the gym some day, and so is Cody Stevenson,” Webster coach Bill Kurich said. “Those guys have had outstanding careers.”
The 2013 class of seniors helped Webster achieve the two best seasons not just in Gorlok baseball, but in any sport in Webster history.
“It’s tough we’re not gonna get to see those guys play anymore,” Kurich said. “We didn’t end 20-20 and not make the conference tournament, but we still didn’t accomplish our ultimate goal. But there were only five teams left in the country, and we were one of them.”
After the final out in the bottom of the ninth inning, the line of hugs began and players’ emotions poured out.
“You’re never going to be able to play the sport again in competitive fashion,” Kazmierski said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more these past two years. I’ll love and remember this for the rest of my life.”
JOSH SELLMEYER INTERVIEWS ALEX KAZMIERSKI
—Josh Sellmeyer contributed to this article.
Read more about Webster’s season-ending loss to Southern Maine by clicking HERE.
Share this post
