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   JORDAN
SCHMITT - abilene christian university wildcats
PING!BASEBALL DIVISION II SPOTLIGHT
The Abilene Christian University Wildcats
have been in contention for a top ten spot in the Ping!Baseball
DII poll for the entire season. Currently ranked tenth, ACU
had been rated as high as number two in the country. One man
doesn’t make a team (with the exception of Roy Hobbs
and Scott Howard in Teen Wolf) and there is always
a player or two who separates themselves on and off the field
as leaders and helps the team perform to its top potential.
For the Wildcats, a team full of personalities, one player
that stands out in particular is senior catcher Jordan Schmitt.
 Schmitt
made an immediate impact since arriving on campus, starting
47 games as a freshman. He proved to be proficient both at
and behind the plate, batting .307 and throwing out 18 of
43 would be base stealers his first year. He continued to
get more proficient his next two seasons, batting .361 and
.342 respectively and was like Walker Texas Ranger when it
came to catching thieves, only allowing 28 stolen bases in
50 attempts last season. By the time his career at ACU is
over, Schmitt could become the league and school career record-holder
in hits, RBI, runs scored, doubles and total bases and the
ACU career record-holder in home runs.
He also impressed off the field, earning
a first team ESPN The Magazine academic all-District VI selection
as a junior after being a second team selection as a sophomore.
With all his accomplishments, ACU Assistant
Coach Brandon Stover had nothing but praise for his star catcher,
“We love this kid,” Stover boasted, “He
has been a huge part of our program for four years. He's the
same person on and off the field, and I want my kids to be
just like him.” While a resume and recommendation like
that, Ping!Baseball absolutely had to have him answer a few
questions about his time at ACU:
PING!BASEBALL:
Head Coach Britt Bonneau has built the Wildcat program from
a middling program struggling to reach .500 into a perennial
power nationally, averaging well over 40 wins per season.
What is it about Coach Bonneau that makes him such an effective
leader/Coach?
SCHMITT: Coach
is a great motivator for the team and also does a great job
in focusing on the next game at hand. We do not sit around
thinking about what could have been the week before, but instead
he prepares us to do well in upcoming games. He also has a
lot of help from our assistant coach, Brandon Stover, who
is going to make a great head coach in the future. I've seen
each of these guys grow as coaches and as people in the past
4 years and their commitment to the players and the program
is what keeps ACU on top year after year.
 PING!BASEBALL:
Will anything other than a trip to the College World Series
in 2009 be a disappointment for the Wildcats?
SCHMITT: In
short, yes. Our first goal is to come away with the conference
championship, but moving past regionals into the World Series
is always the goal at ACU. The last 4 years at ACU have made
me seen how difficult it is to make it to the World Series
and this is something that I try and preach to our newer players.
PING!BASEBALL:
As not only a senior, but as a catcher who is often regarded
as the captain of the infield, do you seize the opportunity
to be a leader for the team?
SCHMITT: I
try to lead our team by example. I am not always the most
vocal, but I try to do things the right way and be a positive
influence among my teammates. I'm more of a do-er than a talker.
PING!BASEBALL:
A number of catchers go into coaching once their playing career
is over. Is that something you may be interested in?
SCHMITT: I
do not see myself in a full time coaching role in the future.
I would love to volunteer or possible coach my kids in the
future, but I don't think I want the stress of being paid
to coach.
PING!BASEBALL: You've
stolen base attempts have taken a jump this season. With a
previous high of 11 in your first seasons, you already have
18 this season. Are you getting faster, savvier, more aggressive
as a senior, or something else?
SCHMITT: Stealing
bases is something that we worked on a lot in the off season.
Coach Bonneau emphasized being more agressive and getting
better jumps. It just seems like our whole team has a different
mindset when it comes to stealing bases and it has been a
huge part of our offense.
PING!BASEBALL:
Aside from school and baseball, what’s the best thing
about being in Abilene?
SCHMITT: Hands
down, the people. The people in Abilene and around ACU are
some of the best people in the world. The professors at ACU
are some of the most helpful and approachable people. They
actually care about each individual student and it shows from
the way they treat their students.
PING!BASEBALL:
You’ve spent the last three and ½ years rewriting
the ACU and Lone Star Conference records books with your batsmanship,
only to have your teammate, Willie Uechi chasing down your
record pace. What plans do you have to injure him before he
takes your records?
SCHMITT: He
does a pretty good job trying to injure himself each game
with the way he plays. He plays the game harder than anyone
I have ever played with. I've never seen a shortstop dive
for so many balls in a game. He has been a great asset to
our program and I love watching him play everyday.
PING!BASEBALL:
What advice would you, or have you, give an incoming freshman
coming to play at ACU?
SCHMITT: Be
prepared to work hard and enjoy a winning program. I would
also advise any incoming freshmen to take advantage of any
opportunities to play and to stand out with hustle and hard
work. Also, enjoy the time away from baseball at ACU and take
advantage of what this school has to offer.
PING!BASEBALL:
Who knew, Jessica Simpson was born in Abilene… Have
any of her song loaded up in your mp3 player?
SCHMITT: I
might have had a couple at one point, but I don't get around
to listening to her too much these days.
PING!BASEBALL:
She is going to be on a TV show called “I Get That A
lot” where celebrities prank ordinary people. Which
of your Wildcat teammates – or coaches – needs
to be put in their place by a hidden camera show?
SCHMITT: Travis
Latz "Dr. D" and Corey Kelly. I think their reactions
would be priceless.
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