Big Time Shortstop: Connor Schaefbauer, SF East

by Kolbe Nelson
July 04, 2011 10:09 PM


Sioux Falls East's Connor Schaefbauer, our Taco John's Athlete of the Week, goes about his business just like any ordinary player, but he has some very extraordinary talent.

"Connor's one of the most pure hitters I've ever coached." East Head Coach Brandon Hunt says, "It's not a matter of if, but when he gets his hits in a game. If he starts the game 0 for 2, I feel pretty good because I know he's got two or three hits still in him.  So when we get to the later part of the game he's still got those in him."

When you've got those kinds of skills, you tend to become a captain like figure for your squad. With East coming off a runner-up performance in last year's state tournament, Schaefbauer takes that leadership role very seriously.

"There's alot of responsibility with it," Schaefbauer says, "Because last year we were very successful with this team, and so we gotta try to follow that up and try to be more successful."

But Schaefbauer, who will be a senior this fall at O'Gorman, knows he's not carrying East all by himself.

"It's not just me that helps," Schaefbauer says, "We've got a bunch of us veterans back so leading there is important, but the younger people are figuring it out and so its like just like any other team."

But the thing that seperates East from any other team is how strongly they feel they can win a state championship..

"We're very hopeful," Schaefbauer says, "Because we knew we could do it last year, and this year we know it's realistic and we know we can get over the hump and win it."

Follow KDLT Weekend Sports Anchor Kolbe Nelson on Twitter at @KolbeNelson