I had a chance to interview DeMatha catcher Tommy Dietrich, back in March. Tommy is in final season as he gets ready to graduate this spring and is committed to play baseball at Washington and Jefferson, a solid Division lll program in Washington, Pennsylvania. He is a talented baseball player who carries a great veteran presence behind the plate, and is a great teammate and classmate as well. Here is the interview.

Q: What are some personal and team goals for this season?

A: The first and most important goal for the team is to win the WCAC and also win as many games in the regular season to help us do that. Personally, I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win, whether it be behind the plate or with the bat.

Q: Being a catcher, how do you go about your business on a day-to-day basis with hitting, catching, and handling a pitching staff?

A: Personally, I always try to stay very scheduled in my day, and make sure to always get to practice or games as early as possible to get stretched properly and swing on my own before the team gets together. As far as handling a staff I have great relationships with the pitchers because they’re not just my teammates but also my friends so I’m always communicating with them daily and seeing how they’re doing on and off the field.

Q: You guys are 5-0 to start the season, how does that feel and how far do you think you can go as a team?

A: It feels good and it’s definitely a good start but it’s what we expected to do. The competition is only going to get tougher especially in the WCAC so we have to take it one game at a time. I really think we can and should win every game this year if we pitch well and our bats stay hot like they have been.

Q: Who’s a teammate that deserves praise whether that be an arm you’ve caught or a bat in the lineup?

A: I think Charley Magoulick deserves alot of praise for the way he’s begun the season on both sides of the ball. He’s come up with some clutch hits and had a really good start on the mound in the opener.

Q: Since you’re a senior at DeMatha, how has the school helped you academically and athletically over the past four years?

A: I’ve had some really great teachers in my four years that I’ve connected with and learned alot from, and my best friends that I have made in life are from DeMatha. As far as athletically, DeMatha’s baseball program is one of the best in the area and Coach Miller and all the coaches here have helped me to become a better player.

Q: Before the season you committed to Washington and Jefferson. Why did you decide to go there and what went into that decision?

A: I decided to go to W&J for multiple reasons. First, I enjoyed the city of Washington, PA and the campus itself felt like home. Academically, W&J was a great choice and had the major I wanted to take. Athletically, I really connected with the coaches at W&J more than any other school I visited, and they run a great program where I really feel that I can compete and grow as a player.

Thank you to Tommy for taking the time to do this interview. Keep an eye on the Stags as they finished their regular season with a terrific 24-4 record and are a threat to win the WCAC crown.