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Missouri State baseball has won 12 of its first 20 games, and a big part of that early-season success has been the dominant performance of their bats.
Nearly halfway through the season, Missouri State has already hit more home runs than they did all of last year.
“I feel like with our lineup we have nine guys that can change the game with one swing of the bat,” Missouri State senior Mason Hull said.
“I mean I think we have power. I think that is what makes our team special is just having power throughout the lineup,” Bears senior Dakota Kotowski added.
It’s a former Bear that’s helping the current MSU players harness that power, new hitting coach Joey Hawkins.
“He’s got a good relationship with them. There’s a trust involved, and I think he has a philosophy that is simplistic but good,” Missouri State head baseball coach Keith Guttin said.
A philosophy, something coach Hawkins implemented immediately upon arrival.
“I think just having a concrete philosophy that the guys can go back to, good or bad, is a good place to start,” said Hawkins.
An approach the players have bought into.
“He’s been a big help. He’s a great guy and he’s a great hitting coach and he makes good plans for us, and we stick to them and trust him,” Hull said.
Dakota Kotowski is the first Bear to reach 10 homers this year, “Things will take care of themselves if I stick to Joey’s plan, and swing at good pitches and take those ones and be on time,” Kotowski said.
Mason Hull is nearing 10 bombs on the season, “Hunting the middle part of the plate. Pitchers make mistakes a lot and capitalize on those mistakes,” Hull said.
With every home run comes a proper celebration, the griddy dance.
When asked who has the best griddy, Hull says senior Cam Cratic.
As for who has the worst, Hull says Kotowski does, and Dakota agrees.
“Hopefully I can do it a lot more and get to work on it each time,” Kotowski said.
