Tristan Baer-Hamburg

Tristan Baer’s bullpen session before the Hawks’ season opener against Fleetwood wasn’t good. The Tigers would probably be surprised to know that considering how Baer performed when he took the mound last Friday. The 6’2, 205-pound senior was locked in. Baer went the distance in a 2-0 victory. He struck out 10 and walked just one. Fleetwood was held to three hits. Baer threw 91 pitches (66 for strikes) and 87 of them were fastballs. Head coach Nick Evangelista said his command was outstanding. Baer is committed to PSU-Harrisburg. He was an all-division selection last year when he punched out 43 batters over 35 innings with a 2.40 ERA. He also did plenty of damage at the plate with a .397 average and 24 RBI. Baer told me that he’s been working on his curveball grip with Evangelista. Baer has high expectations for this year’s team, but he knows Division 3 will be very competitive. Wyomissing won the division title a season ago and Oley Valley captured its ninth District 3 championship. The Hawks return Conner Licklider (2B), Luke Bensinger (SS), Nate Gilbert (C), and Connor Gruber (RF). All four of them started last year as sophomores. Licklider hit .361 and Gilbert had a .503 on-base percentage. Bensinger finished with eight doubles while batting .316. Austin Miller, who’s headed to Albright, is back on the mound and Brayden Kamp (PSU-Berks) returns at first base. All-county pick Hunter Shuey has moved on to Division I UNC-Greensboro. His younger brother, Tyler, will be at the hot corner for Hamburg as a freshman. Baer is looking forward to being Hamburg’s #1 starter in 2022 with a fastball in the upper 80’s. He’s looking to guide the Hawks back to the county playoffs. They didn’t qualify in 2021 after going (13-9, 8-4) and ending up third in the Division 3 standings. Baer suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder during this past football season which limited the FB/LB/P to four games and 34 carries. He was a three-year starter on the gridiron. Baer ran for 1,033 yards, putting him 18th in Hamburg history. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry for his career. Baer was an all-division wrestler as a junior. I asked him if he would rather pin his opponent, score a touchdown, or hit a home run. We also talked about his favorite video games and teachers. You’ll find out who the best gamer is at Hamburg. Baer gets the ball again on Thursday when the Hawks take on Annville-Cleona.