ItB次元官网网址檚 been a long time coming in a college baseball career that turned out a lot longer than expected for Chemainus baseball product Zach Diewert.

After seven years prolonged by injuries and COVID, the end is near and Diewert is going out in style. HeB次元官网网址檚 heading to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics World Series in Lewiston, Idaho May 27-June 3 as a member of the Southeastern University Fire from Lakeland, Florida.

B次元官网网址淓xcept for the injuries, I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have it any other way,B次元官网网址� enthused Diewert, 25.

HeB次元官网网址檚 looking forward to making a contribution to his team thatB次元官网网址檚 ranked No. 1 in the tournament after a remarkable season record of 54-3 overall and 22-2 in Sun Conference play.

B次元官网网址淭he last couple of weeks since IB次元官网网址檝e been healthy IB次元官网网址檝e been first off the bench pinch-hitting but I have got a start coming up,B次元官网网址� Diewert said.

HeB次元官网网址檚 been getting hits practically every time at the plate in the pinch-hitting role.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 never been any doubt about DiewertB次元官网网址檚 talent and he attracted plenty of attention from Major League scouts since heading south after graduating from Chemainus Secondary School. ItB次元官网网址檚 just the injuries that prevented him from reaching full potential.

But Diewert is poised to make a contribution to a very good Southeastern team and has a unique chance to be part of a national championship. The Fire won 26 games in a row to start the season before losing for the first time, rattled off another 11 straight victories, dropped two straight and then completed the season on a 17-game win streak.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of guys contributing,B次元官网网址� said Diewert. B次元官网网址淚 think IB次元官网网址檒l get a good chance of starting.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e the No. 1 team in the country, definitely the favourites to win it now. WeB次元官网网址檝e got pretty high expectations. WeB次元官网网址檝e just got to show up every day.B次元官网网址�

Following the great regular season, the Fire swept to the Sun Conference Tournament championship at West Palm Beach with four consecutive wins and then went to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round in Indiana where it chalked up a pair of 9-5 victories over Bryon College of Tennessee and defeated the University of Northwestern Ohio 9-6.

Diewert has always felt right at home in Lakeland, Florida. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where he started his college career for two seasons of injury-free baseball at Polk State College.

He then transferred to the University of Missouri, but wound up tearing the labrum in his left shoulder and took the whole season off as a medical red-shirt. Diewert wasnB次元官网网址檛 entirely happy with the program at Missouri anyway and wound up departing for Lakeland again.

B次元官网网址淚 kind of wanted to get back to Florida weather, too,B次元官网网址� he confided.

Diewert transferred to Florida Southern but then missed the last 25 games of his first season there after tearing a hamstring. He tried to come back, but tore it again. The following season was cancelled due to COVID.

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The next stop was Southeastern for 2021 and Diewert got off to a torrid start in the first game of the season with a home run, a double and two walks in the first game. But then he tore the labrum in his right shoulder and red-shirted the season.

Diewert was at first base after the last walk and B次元官网网址淚 was in an awkward position already leaning toward second,B次元官网网址� he explained. He knew right away it was trouble for his shoulder.

B次元官网网址淭hat was frustrating. I had a really good fall and pre-season after COVID. I was always working with my trainer. It was a pretty bad tear.B次元官网网址�

Things were going reasonably well in 2022 when he broke his pinky finger 10 games into the season heading into second base after hitting a double.

Diewert was still feeling the effects of his shoulder injury in the beginning and spent the majority of the time as the designated hitter. He finally got a chance to start and thatB次元官网网址檚 when the broken pinky finger happened.

Diewert was out for more than a month and just returned for the last game of the regular season, going two-for-two. He wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure at that point whether his coach would include him on the FireB次元官网网址檚 25-man playoff roster.

B次元官网网址淢y coach was happy with that. He gave me a spot on the playoff roster. I was doubting it a little bit.B次元官网网址�

Diewert is now making the most of this opportunity.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 healthier and IB次元官网网址檓 feeling good now,B次元官网网址� he said.

Along the way, Diewert obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Florida Southern and his Masters at Southeastern.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of worked out in the best way for tuition and getting covered,B次元官网网址� he said.

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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