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When it comes to age and sports, Satchel Paige may have said it best: “Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.”
For Embry-Riddle Eagle baseball players, Travis Bearden and David Reed these words ring true, as their favorite pastime remains not only part of their life at 25 years old, it plays an essential role in their collegiate careers.
Bearden is a junior left-handed pitcher, who has not played collegiate baseball since the 2004 season, when he played for the University of California-Davis Aggies. Reed, a utility infielder, is competing as a freshman after serving the last six years as a member of the Marine Corps.
“I didn’t think I was going to be playing baseball at a level like this ever again,” Bearden said. “After deciding on Embry-Riddle, I thought I wouldn’t have eligibility left for the team because of taking time off and my age.”
The opportunity that both Bearden and Reed thought disappeared with age is often a common misconception as the only level of collegiate competition that has an age restriction is NCAA Division I.
At the NCAA DI level, a student-athlete will lose one year of eligibility after his/her 21st birthday if they had participated as an individual or a team representative in an organized sports competition while being enrolled full-time, this includes taking a break from competition or playing for their first time.
“I thought that when I joined the Marines I would never get the chance to play baseball again,” Reed said. “I would have never imagined I would get the opportunity to continue my career at my age.”
Due to Reed’s time served in the armed forces, he would start off with four years of eligibility at every level of collegiate baseball.
Bearden and Reed’s two and four years of eligibility, respectively, will give them the opportunity to not only play the game they love but exhibit the maturity and leadership skills that come with age.
“It was a no-brainer to make them a part of our team,” Head Coach Randy Stegall said. “You get immediate leadership and respect with age.”
Both gentlemen have impacted the team through many facets, but how they kept baseball a part of their lives and into their 25th year are entirely different stories.
As they entered their twenties, Reed and Bearden went by the job titles of Sergeant in the Marine Corps and an entrepreneur, respectively.
Reed selflessly gave his time to serve his country not only by serving as a Marine but also representing the United States on the Southern All-Stars baseball team.
As a member of the Marines, Reed served in Japan where he was placed in a high-risk zone due to the proximity to North Korea.
“I was fortunate not to have to serve in Iraq,” Reed said. “Serving in Japan and not being on the front line of an attack or never being shot at was somewhat of a blessing.”
This past year, Reed represented the Marines as a member of the U.S. Southern Command All-Star Baseball team. The U.S. Southern Command team included top baseball players from each of the military branches. As part of this team, he represented the United States around central America and played baseball in 48 states, to fundraise and increase awareness for those serving in Iraq.
During the first few months of the team’s campaign, they traveled to various countries including Panama, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic to put on baseball clinics for children of all ages.
“Being in central America made me realize that we take a lot of things for granted in the United States,” Reed said. “They don’t have much in terms of playing fields or equipment and they showed how much they appreciate everything we can do for them, supporting the friendship tour mission.”
According to the United States Southern Command, the mission provided an opportunity for a skilled team of military personnel selected from all branches of the armed forces and the Coast Guard to represent the United States to connect with thousands of Latin American and Caribbean baseball fans one-on-one.
After their tour of South America, the team returned to the United States where they played against various semi-professional ball clubs and multiple collegiate teams. At these games the team’s goal was to raise money and have fans donate items to those serving in Iraq.
“We made each game about the troops,” Reed said. “Stats didn’t matter, just raising awareness and money for those serving there. That’s the greatest stat I could have had.”
The baseball action ended in the early fall months, as well as Reed’s days as an active Marine.
“When choosing Embry-Riddle for the Aeronautical Engineering program, I never thought that I could play baseball for this team,” Reed said. “I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity, and I am trying to make the most of it as you appreciate it more as you get older.”
“He can appreciate that baseball is a game and it’s meant to be fun,” Stegall said. “Being in the military and knowing that your life can end at any time, gives him a perspective on the game that makes him appreciate being out here, as many guys take their opportunity for granted.”
Similar to Reed’s decision to attend Embry-Riddle, Bearden also chose ERAU due to the engineering programs. He is yet undecided on which engineering specialty he will choose, but is leaning towards Civil Engineering.
Bearden ended his collegiate career with the UCD Aggies after the 2004 season due to what he claims as the lack of drive to be in school.
He was a two-year letter winner for the Aggies, and he was a member of the 2003 team that participated in the NCAA DII World Series and in 2004, he threw 38.2 innings with a 3-1 record and a 5.25 ERA.
“At that point in my life, I thought it was the best decision to take some time off,” Bearden said.
Shortly after his stint at UC-Davis ended, Bearden and his father decided to start a business in northern California. The SCSL Direct company was born in the summer of 2004. The company specializes in buying and selling cars from dealer, and they also dabbled in some remarketing for credit unions.
Although he became a 9-to-5, average, working adult at the age of 20, Bearden did not give up his love for the game as he played for the Senior Men’s Baseball League’s Santa Cruz Mets. The highly skilled non-professional league is comprised of teams made up of former college and professional athletes, ages 18-55.
“Bearden led us from the mound and was a vocal member of the team,” Brian Feduk, Manager and player for the Santa Cruz Mets, said. “He is one of the best guys I have ever played with.”
The Mets won the 2007 Central Division Championship with Bearden on the mound. He ended the season with an 8-1 record, 2.75 ERA and 76 strikeouts, all while hitting .345 with two home runs and 12 RBI.
During the spring of 2008, Bearden decided to return to the classroom as he attended a community college near his home as a part-time student.
“I knew that I wanted to go back to school,” Bearden said. “After working with my dad through three years and at Stagnaro Brothers Restaurant while taking a few credits.”
His decision to attend Embry-Riddle came after some research about the engineering programs and through his research, he saw that the school had a baseball team.
“We were really excited because he was a left-handed pitcher and through research found out he pitched in the NCAA DII World Series,” Stegall said. “At first we thought we were just adding depth and in the fall he worked himself into a leadership role, a captain and a starter that we could use in key games.”
Bearden joined the Eagles’ squad in the fall of 2008 and Reed stepped on the field in the spring semester to add to the maturity of the team.
“I would have to say maturity is relative,” Bearden remarked. “David brings more maturity than me.”
Whether it’s the level of maturity that they bring to the team or the willingness to accept jokes about their age from their teammates, they are always respected as leaders.
“From the moment I stepped on the field they began to call me Grandpa,” Reed said. “At least I know that I’m not the most senior, as Travis is a month older than me and gets the jokes a lot more.”
“Bearden and Reed bring an experience of life without sports to our young team,” senior co-captain Matt Steele said. “This has taught all of us to appreciate the time we have and never take anything on the field for granted.”
Learning from the 25-year-olds or just respecting their leadership, the elders show their peers that playing college baseball is the best time of their lives and to live in the moment.
“If I could give my teammates advice I would tell them to take every moment on the baseball field for what its worth,” Reed said.
“We never realize how good we have it,” Bearden said. “Right now we don’t have to worry about the pressures you face outside of college. In the ‘real world’ life just gets complicated. Playing college baseball is not easy but it’s really mind over matter.”
Whether stated by 25-year-old Bearden or a Major League Hall of Famer in Paige, mind over matter may be a common thought for baseball. The embodiment of the statement proves that the determination of these 25-year old minds is a powerful tool both on and off the baseball diamond.
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Courtesy: Bill Steele
