Kent State of Mind: Lance Macdonald - Enjoying Every Moment
5/2/2024 1:47:00 PM | Baseball
I’ve loved baseball for as long as I can remember.
From the time I was just a little kid, outside in the backyard playing catch with my dad, I was hooked on baseball.
When I was first learning how to hold a bat, I’d constantly use the wrong hands or face the wrong way. Instead of correcting me to a certain side, my dad would just keep me on whichever side I lined up on.
Some days I’d bat left.
Some days I’d bat right.
As a result, and whether he meant to or not, Dad made me a switch hitter.
He always said we’ll see how long it lasts until one side of the plate doesn’t work out, but hitting from both sides has always worked out and been a part of my game.
That’s just one example of how my parents have been an integral part of my life. Because not only did Dad coach me from T-ball all the way through high school, my mom is quite the coach herself.
As the head gymnastics coach at Central Michigan, she’s won multiple championships and has been an unbelievable role model and leader to countless gymnasts she’s coached in her 30-year career.
From an early age, my parents set the foundation for what it means to work hard to achieve success. They’ve earned every opportunity they’ve been given in their lives, and they taught my sisters and I to do the same.
So, when I set out to earn my own opportunities and embark on my dreams of playing college baseball, they’ve been my inspiration every step of the way.
Journey of twists and turns
As a sixth-year senior at my fourth school, it’s fair to say my college career has been anything but linear.
And I’m here to tell you, it’s been as wild of a journey as it sounds, filled with twists and turns throughout.
But I couldn’t be more grateful for the highs and lows of my baseball career because I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without them.
After playing for a couple of different junior colleges, I can honestly say I’m living the dream and doing something I always wanted to do, which is playing for a four-year university and championship-caliber program.
When I had the chance to transfer to Kent State, I promised myself I was going to take full advantage and make the most of the opportunity I was given.
Their goals and dreams aligned with mine – we both wanted to win at the highest level of college baseball – so I was ecstatic to put on that navy and gold uniform to help the team do just that.
Unfortunately, it’d take some time before that uniform would be put to good use and filled with infield dirt.
Life was about to throw me another curveball.
Accepting my role
Right before I got to Kent State, I was playing summer ball and gearing up to play for the fall season.
All was going well until about three weeks into the season when my arm really started to bother me. I didn’t know the extent of the injury at the time, but I’d later learn it was the two words that every baseball player fears the most.
Tommy John.
Oblivious to the fact that I had a torn ligament and needed Tommy John surgery, I played with the injury for about a month before I couldn’t take it any longer.
When I went to the doctor, he thought initially it was just a flexor strain, so I rehabbed the best I could and somehow made it through the fall season, but I couldn’t put it off any longer.
I ended up getting the surgery in late October 2021, which put me out of action for well over a year.
While I was extremely disappointed, I’ve also never been one to hang my head and sulk – my parents never would’ve put up with that.
Obviously, I couldn’t impact the team as much as I would’ve envisioned, but I still had a role and responsibility to help my team succeed.
Since I was a catcher, I’d help catch bullpens, and while someone would have to be there to throw the ball back, it was better than nothing, you know? It still allowed me to be around the team and get the boys ready to win games.
I ended up missing the entire 2022 season, and while I was able to make my return last year for the 2023 season, it was a slow recovery process.
I still wasn’t quite feeling myself.
But, man, that was such a special season to be a part of.
We went 42-16 and only lost one game at home all year. We also capped off the regular season by winning the MAC Championship.
Even though I wasn’t able to contribute as much as I would have liked to, I took great pride last year in accepting whatever role was necessary to help the team win. That only fueled me to replicate our team’s success heading into 2024.
No bad days
For the first time since I’ve been at Kent State, I feel as healthy as I’ve ever been and I’m getting an opportunity to make an impact on the field that I’ve always thought about since arriving.
Injuries are never fun, but the lesson learned makes it worth it.
Appreciate every second that I spend getting to play this kid’s game with my best friends.
During a recent game against Toledo, I found myself looking around and appreciating everything that was happening around me.
The sky was a perfect blue.
The weather was a perfect 75 degrees.
I was in the outfield playing the game I love most.
I glanced at my teammates.
I looked over at our fans sitting in the bleachers.
I couldn’t help but feel incredibly grateful and privileged because I’m living my dream. I’m doing something I’ve always wanted to do in playing DI baseball.
The thing is, I know what it feels like to have that taken away from me. It killed me not to be out there on the field with my teammates, so after everything I’ve gone through, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.
I can honestly say I appreciate the game now more than I ever have. As the old head on the team, that’s something I try to relay to the younger guys.
I tell them not to let a bad game at the plate or in the field ruin their day and this tremendous experience we’re all blessed to be a part of.
One of my favorite quotes I heard is from Deion Sanders and he says, “I can have a bad moment. I can have a bad minute. Or I can have a bad hour. But I will never let it get to the point where I have a bad day.”
It’s so true because, especially in baseball, you are going to have a bad minute or a bad moment in the game, but you don’t have to let it ruin your entire day.
That’s something I’m cognizant of as my time at Kent State is coming to an end. I might go 0-4 at the plate, but you know what? I’m going to give it everything I have in those at-bats because I don’t have endless years left to play.
I’m not certain when my last at-bat is going to be, but I can promise you when that time comes, I’m going to dig in the box one last time with a smile on my face and enjoy every last moment of every last pitch.
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