Sitting in the bullpen after picking up two wins against the visiting Cal State Monterey Bay Otters, senior catcher Mark Lindsay said he comes into every game with the same mentality of preparing himself so he’s ready when his number is called.
Lindsay said he began the season by setting team-oriented goals and said his mentality coming into every game has been his motivation.
“I’m not a big goal guy, but I just want to play as hard as I can every game and the outcome will come with that,” Lindsay said. “It’s more about preparation and mindset. That you want to prepare yourself so much that you have no regrets coming back to the game.”
Lindsay is currently hitting at a .364 average from the plate in 107 at-bats, which ranks him fifth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. To go along with his batting average, Lindsay has 16 runs batted in and an on-base percentage of .469.
Coming into his senior year, Lindsay’s career 156 hits rank him sixth in the all-time Gators’ career hit list, needing 55 more hits to reach Phil Kernan’s 211 career hits record, which he set back in 1995. Through 30 games this season, Lindsay has 39 hits and is on pace to break into SF State’s all-time season hits record.
“My mentality has been to get a pitch that I’m looking for,” Lindsay said. “I’m a big sitting pitch guy, so I’m not going to swing at a pitch that I’m not looking for.”
The Gators’ catcher has been a force at the plate with Lindsay’s defense being stellar all year. He has only committed two errors and has a .986 fielding percentage.
In addition to his hitting and fielding, Lindsay has been calling the pitches for whoever is on the mound since he was a freshman.
“Mark has been the best teammate I could ask for and every time he’s back there I know he has my back,” said starting pitcher Peter Reyes. “Me and him have been playing together for a while and I’ve never had a different catcher, so I feel really comfortable throwing to him.”
Head coach Mark Cummins has coached Lindsay throughout his four years and said he has seen him grow as a player.
“He’s done a great job and I’m just gonna enjoy the last month with him,” Cummins said. “We have to keep winning games and get into the playoffs and hope it never ends, but I’m going to miss him down the road no doubt.”
As the season progresses, Lindsay said he hopes the team as a whole can continue to improve and make the final push into the playoffs. After losing six of seven games, the Gators have won two of their last three and have a 12-12 conference record. SF State currently sits sixth in the CCAA conference.
The senior catcher only has 13 games left in his collegiate career, not including a possible playoff run. Lindsay said he hopes to leave a legacy that goes beyond statistics.
“I’ve been through a lot here in my four years trying to get the program turned around,” Lindsay said. “I want to leave a legacy that hard work pays off.”
