WINGATE — Playing baseball has been a constant in Myles Rohleder’s life since he was five years old.
But it wasn’t until the coronavirus pandemic swept the nation this past spring that he realized how much the game means to him.
Rohleder, who graduated from Richmond Senior High School in 2017, found himself without baseball for five months this year. Currently a redshirt sophomore on the Wingate University baseball team, Rohleder is finally starting to see some normalcy return.
The Bulldogs have returned to team practices this fall after seeing their 2020 spring season cut to just 21 games. Rohleder, who plays second and third base, noted that a regular routine has been a welcomed friend around the clubhouse.
“Things are as good as they can be,” Rohleder said. “It’s good to be back with the guys and good to be playing baseball again. The last couple of weeks have been really good for practice, even though we have to wear masks and social distance.”
Wingate began working out earlier this fall, but after some “COVID-related issues,” the team had to take a three-week break. But now it’s full throttle for Rohleder and his teammates, as the Bulldogs gear up for the 2021 season.
“Right now we’re just going over the fundamentals of the game,” Rohleder explained. “We’re doing a lot of fielding, baserunning and simulating situations that pop up in games.
“I’ve also spent a lot of time working on my hitting,” he added. “I’m trying to make sure I stay committed to the outer third of the plate but am ready when the fastball comes inside.”
On top of working on improving his baseball IQ, Rohleder said he’s taking advantage of this time to condition and hit the weightroom. Per COVID restrictions, the team can only lift for 20-minute periods, but every little bit has made a difference for Rohleder.
Photo: Myles Rohleder as a Richmond Raider baseball player. Contributed photo.
When Rohelder began his baseball career at Wingate in 2018, he suffered a hip injury his freshman year. Season-ending surgery led to a medical redshirt, and he returned to play as a redshirt freshman in 2019.
Playing as a sophomore this past spring, the coronavirus pandemic added an extra year of NCAA eligibility for Rohleder and every college athlete in the country. Even though he’s in his senior year as an accounting major, who’s set to graduate in May, Rohleder still has a fifth-year option he plans to exercise.
Currently in the process of applying to Wingate’s Master of Accounting program, Rohleder hopes to play baseball for the Bulldogs while also obtaining his graduate degree.
Last summer, Rohleder played for the High Point-Thomasville HiToms, a member of the Coastal Plains League. The wooden bat league serves as a development program for rising college baseball players and mirrors minor league play during the summer months.
In five games, he recorded three hits, plated an RBI and scored a run. During the 2019 campaign for Wingate, Rohleder played in 15 games and batted .143 with a double and four RBIs.
“Playing for the HiToms definitely taught me a lot,” Rohleder said. “It gave me a different perspective of the game than what I’m used to and it was a lot like playing minor league baseball. It was a great overall experience against some really good competition.”
Between his hip injury and seeing his sophomore season wiped out because of COVID, Rohelder is trying to remain positive. He said the pandemic has been a burden but it has also taught him to appreciate the game that has been such a big part of his life for so long.
“This whole experience has taught me that stuff will be thrown at you that you’re not expecting. And it’s up to you to learn to deal with it on the fly,” Rohleder said. “I could have complained, but I got up and did something to get around it.
“I also learned that I can’t take anything for granted because it can be gone in an instant,” he continued, citing baseball as an example. “This year I’m really enjoying the small things a lot more.”
Wingate baseball is set to play a shortened season in 2021, starting with a road game at Lander University on Feb. 16. Rohleder will continue working on earning a larger role on the team, but said the most important thing is to have fun.
“I can’t wait to get out there and play the game of baseball,” Rohleder closed. “I’ve been playing this sport since I was five years old and I want to have fun. I’m not ready to give it up yet, so every minute counts.”
