An article in the Springfield arrea newspaper
A relationship that began his freshman year has blossomed into a college baseball opportunity for Nixa senior Luke Hauswirth.
“I play with the Midwest Nationals and I played (at Kansas State University) as a freshman,” Hauswirth said after signing his letter of intent March 16. “I met coach Brad Hill and the staff and developed a little bit of a relationship with them. I wasn’t quite developed enough (as a player) then, so I kept working.”
That work paid off.
“Eventually things worked out this past fall and winter,” Hauswirth said. “I went back up there and fell in love with their new pitching coach, Tyler Kincaid, and it turned out pretty nicely.”
Hauswirth was projected to be Nixa’s No. 4 pitcher last spring, but injuries to staff ace Jacob Ruder, Dustin Sipes and Grayston Scott forced Hauswirth up to the top spot. Despite some struggles, that, too, worked out pretty nicely.
“Luke has been a special player with us,” Nixa coach Howard Greenwood said. “Last year he was thrown into a role that maybe might have been early for him, but he handled it well. He became our leading pitcher and in conference got all our big games. That’s going to continue this year. What I really appreciate out of Luke is not only what he has contributed to the team, but he goes beyond the team. What he does on the field is only half of it. He’s a very personable player off the field. He’s a thinking, mental-type player. He’s always thinking and he’s always helping.”
While last season may not have lived up to Nixa’s typical standards, Hauswirth — who also plays third base for the Eagles — has grown through the experience and is excited to get back on the mound.
“Looking forward to this year helped get me through last year,” Hauswirth said. “And knowing that it would be alright, that we were going to be fine. I just trusted in my stuff and my teammates.”
It wasn’t just the on-the-mound experience that helped Hauswirth grow. He also gives a lot of credit to Ruder, who will soon be his teammate again. Ruder is in his freshman season as a pitcher for K-State.
“I learned so much from Jacob last year about pitching and it’s cool that he’s there too,” Hauswirth said. “People always ask me if he’s part of the reason I’m going up there. He really isn’t, but it’s just a bonus to be there with a friend.”
Hauswirth will only be pitching at K-State — “I love being on the mound — and studying mechanical engineering,” he said.
Though teaching and coaching might not be in Hauswirth’s future, Greenwood said his staff ace has done plenty of that at Nixa.
“He maybe doesn’t know this, but I’ve caught him many times on the field leading through example and maybe a few words to a younger player,” Greenwood said. “For example yesterday I made a comment to one of our third baseman that he needs to get in front of the bag to receive the throw. And then I looked over and there was Luke showing him exactly what I meant. I appreciate that. As a coach you’ve got to have these older players who take on that leadership role and instruct the younger players. It makes my job so much easier.”
A relationship that began his freshman year has blossomed into a college baseball opportunity for Nixa senior Luke Hauswirth.
“I play with the Midwest Nationals and I played (at Kansas State University) as a freshman,” Hauswirth said after signing his letter of intent March 16. “I met coach Brad Hill and the staff and developed a little bit of a relationship with them. I wasn’t quite developed enough (as a player) then, so I kept working.”
That work paid off.
“Eventually things worked out this past fall and winter,” Hauswirth said. “I went back up there and fell in love with their new pitching coach, Tyler Kincaid, and it turned out pretty nicely.”
Hauswirth was projected to be Nixa’s No. 4 pitcher last spring, but injuries to staff ace Jacob Ruder, Dustin Sipes and Grayston Scott forced Hauswirth up to the top spot. Despite some struggles, that, too, worked out pretty nicely.
“Luke has been a special player with us,” Nixa coach Howard Greenwood said. “Last year he was thrown into a role that maybe might have been early for him, but he handled it well. He became our leading pitcher and in conference got all our big games. That’s going to continue this year. What I really appreciate out of Luke is not only what he has contributed to the team, but he goes beyond the team. What he does on the field is only half of it. He’s a very personable player off the field. He’s a thinking, mental-type player. He’s always thinking and he’s always helping.”
While last season may not have lived up to Nixa’s typical standards, Hauswirth — who also plays third base for the Eagles — has grown through the experience and is excited to get back on the mound.
“Looking forward to this year helped get me through last year,” Hauswirth said. “And knowing that it would be alright, that we were going to be fine. I just trusted in my stuff and my teammates.”
It wasn’t just the on-the-mound experience that helped Hauswirth grow. He also gives a lot of credit to Ruder, who will soon be his teammate again. Ruder is in his freshman season as a pitcher for K-State.
“I learned so much from Jacob last year about pitching and it’s cool that he’s there too,” Hauswirth said. “People always ask me if he’s part of the reason I’m going up there. He really isn’t, but it’s just a bonus to be there with a friend.”
Hauswirth will only be pitching at K-State — “I love being on the mound — and studying mechanical engineering,” he said.
Though teaching and coaching might not be in Hauswirth’s future, Greenwood said his staff ace has done plenty of that at Nixa.
“He maybe doesn’t know this, but I’ve caught him many times on the field leading through example and maybe a few words to a younger player,” Greenwood said. “For example yesterday I made a comment to one of our third baseman that he needs to get in front of the bag to receive the throw. And then I looked over and there was Luke showing him exactly what I meant. I appreciate that. As a coach you’ve got to have these older players who take on that leadership role and instruct the younger players. It makes my job so much easier.”
