MTSU Baseball continues to grow the game with the next generation

Written by Willie Phaler

Middle Tennessee Baseball hosted Little League Day during their home-opening Conference USA series against Florida International. 

All Little Leaguers who came to the game with their jersey on received free entrance, an opportunity to run the bases postgame and a chance to meet some of the Blue Raiders. 

Although the Blue Raiders (15-19) dropped two of three to Florida International, a few Blue Raiders had a good time looking back on their Little League days. 

Eston Snider, a member of the Preseason All-CUSA team and MTSU’s team captain, was a part of a team that made an appearance at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

“It's something that was really cool, and at that age helps you grow as well,” Snider said.  

Snider is currently leading Middle Tennessee in several stats, including batting average at .377 and doubles with 12. 

Snider made a second deep run through summer in Little League, with a team that won the Tennessee state championship and competed for the regional title to go back to Williamsport. 

“Building relationships with some of those people was the best part,” Snider said. 

Another Blue Raider with big-time youth baseball experience is first baseman Brett Vondohlen. The corner infielder played in a Dreams’ Park tournament in Cooperstown, New York, and said one of his favorite baseball memories happened there. 

“One of my favorite memories is hitting a grand slam to walk it off and send us to the sweet 16,” Vondohlen said. 

Hitting impactful home runs is something that Vondohlen has been able to bring to the Blue Raiders as well. He is currently second in CUSA with 13 home runs and holds the MTSU single-game record for home runs as he belted three against Western Kentucky last April.