When Peter Steiner began his Calvin baseball
career he was not the multi-faceted threat he is today.
His first year, Steiner played an extraordinary
specialized and valuable role. That season, Steiner,
one of two freshmen starters for the Knights, posted an
unblemished 8-0 record and a 3.06 earned run average
as a pitcher.
“He had an outstanding freshman season as a pitcher,” said Steiner’s coach, John Sparks, who was also in
his first year at Calvin.
The 2008 season featured the most talented Knights’ team in recent memory. Finishing with a conference
championship, an overall record of 32-10 and a 23-5
mark within conference, the Knights earned Calvin’s
only NCAA DIII tournament appearance in the past
four years.
Steiner remains grounded when discussing that
year and is quick to credit his teammates for the
undefeated record.
“It just seemed like everything went my way freshman
year. Even on days that I didn’t have my best stuff,
the offense would have my back and put up a bunch of
runs for me to work with,” he said.
Sparks says that Steiner, along with the rest of his
freshmen class, made the transition to Calvin’s baseball
program seamlessly.
“It [2008] was my first year. I didn’t do the recruiting,
so I didn’t know anything about Peter or the rest of the
class,” said Sparks.
Steiner was coming off a knee surgery that sidelined
him for all of the fall. That meant his experience with
the team would be limited to the spring season. When
he stormed through the league as a freshman, Sparks
knew he had a talented player on his hands.
“The way he pitched in the clutch his freshman year,
you could see his competitive drive and composure
under pressure,” he said.
Steiner was responsible for the Knights’ lone victory
against Adrian, a perennial league powerhouse. Three
seasons later, that moment remains special for Steiner.
His sophomore year, Steiner recorded another
winning record at 5-3, but remained without an at-bat.
Still, Steiner was confident of his ability to contribute on
and off the mound and patiently waited for his chance.
That chance came in his junior campaign. Coach
Sparks recognized Steiner’s efforts and started him at
first base midway through his junior year. In his first
game at the plate, he went 0-2 with a sacrifice bunt.
In less than half a season, Steiner batted .319 for
Calvin, knocking 15 hits in 47 at-bats with four RBIs.
He paired that with another 5-3 season on the mound.
In his senior season, however, Steiner established
himself as Calvin’s “most consistent batter,” according
to Sparks.
Late in the season, batting .325, Steiner led the Knights
with 24 RBIs and 41 hits. In addition to pitching and posting
a career-low 2.76 ERA, he played regularly at first base and
even broke Calvin’s single-season record for stolen bases with
19 successful swipes on 23 attempts.
That combination made Steiner a versatile option for the
Knights. “He made my job tremendously easier. His diversity
was essential for our success,” said Sparks.
Both Steiner and his coach note his development into
a very diverse threat on the field, as well as a capable leader
off it.
“That’s what I’m most proud of. Peter has a very outgoing
personality, and he channeled that effectively into being a
leader this year,” said Sparks.
Steiner also noted his growth into a much smarter
player, and thanked his four fellow seniors, especially
Keith Spoelstra, for the friendly competition that helped
get him there.
Steiner said he came to Grand Rapids from Chicago
looking for a well-rounded education and an opportunity
to play the sport he loves.
“Calvin has made me a better overall person and
closer to God,” he concluded. “I’ve met a lot of great
people at Calvin and would not trade my experience
here for anything.”
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