Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
2/21/2018 7:00:00 PM | General
If you've watched a ballgame at Reese Smith Field anytime in the past four years, chances are you've probably glanced down at the man yelling for the former free double play cheeseburger voucher in section 102, seat five.
If you've spent time in Alumni Memorial Gym, Dean Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium, MTSU softball complex or Adams Tennis Center, you've probably noticed the man with the faded Pegasus on his MTSU hat and old brown zip-up hoodie, too.
Both are one in the same, and that man is Manchester native Bill Schenck.
On Feb. 18, the Blue Raider baseball team was preparing for a twin-bill in their season-opening series against the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Fifteen minutes before first pitch, Schenck took his seat in section 102 and was immediately greeted by Kathy Aucker, mother of Blue Raider designated hitter Aaron Aucker, and learned he'd made it in the photo album Kathy made for her son.
Prior to the national anthem, assistant women's tennis coach Olaya Garrido Rivas stopped to poke fun at "the girls' number-one fan" for coming to baseball but not traveling to Florida for the women's tournament. Bill jokingly replied, "I always gotta stick with baseball," in his New York accent. After sharing a quick laugh, Rivas quickly reassured the Long Island native that "the girls really appreciate you and love when you come to watch."
After the first pitch was thrown, the passion Bill is known for was immediately displayed. Blue Raider starter Andy Rivera eliminated the Leathernecks in order and Schenck belted out "Get those hot bats outta the microwave oven! Let loose the fury of your bats!"
Almost as if Schenck willed it to happen, Middle Tennessee jumped out to an early 6-1 lead after three innings, with Aucker driving in the fifth and sixth runs in the third via the long ball.
That passion Schenck has for MTSU goes back as far as Aucker's third-inning home run.
Schenck is a former student, having attained both a bachelor's and master's in engineering. While working on his master's in 2014, Schenck stopped by the ballpark one night to gaze through the fence at the action.
A foul ball was hit out of the park down the third base line where Schenck was, and he returned the ball to the equipment manager.
"After I gave him the ball, he said 'why don't you come in?'" Schenck said. "I told him, 'No, I can't,' and he goes, 'Sure you can, it's free, just follow me.'"
After picking out section 102, seat five, Schenck found out he could sit there by simply showing his student ID. Once he graduated, Schenck began teaching engineering at MTSU in the Voorhies Engineering Technology building and became a season-ticket holder.
Although the man sitting along the first base line is loud, the respect he shows to everyone on and off the field is what people are drawn toward.
"These are peoples' parents sitting down here. If I had a kid down there and somebody was doing anything other than encouraging him, I'd be mad at me," Schenck said.
That encouragement has crafted many bonds with players' families.
"I talk a lot with Mr. (Allen) Hoffmann (father of former pitcher Nathan Hoffmann), the (Riley) Delgado family and the Wyricks," Schenck said.
Karen, mother of pitcher Jake Wyrick, even went as far as to purchase Bill a ticket to the end-of-the-year banquet two seasons ago.
"She told me, 'You are coming to the end of the season baseball banquet,'" Schenck said. "After I told her I didn't know, she told me they already got me a ticket, you're coming."
After Middle Tennessee jumped out to an 8-1 advantage after four innings, Western Illinois put together a stretch of five unanswered runs to narrow the gap to 8-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
With it being 72 degrees, Bill had slipped off his brown zip-up hoodie in the early stages of the contest.
Noticing the Leathernecks were clawing their way back, Schenck declared, "I gotta get this jacket back on."
Over the final three innings, Middle Tennessee tacked on three important insurance runs to push the score to the eventual final of 11-7.
In the second game, Schenck never removed the jacket, and the Blue Raiders cruised to a 9-3 win and their first home-opener sweep since 2009.
As the skies darkened, Schenck's remarks of, "There's a crime wave in Murfreesboro, bases are being stolen everywhere," and, "Beep, beep, beep," after foul balls entertained the crowd and brought about several loud cheers from fellow fans.
"You gotta keep it fun. It keeps the fans in the game," Schenck said.
The players also did their part to keep Bill and the Blue Raider faithful active. In both games, shortstop LA Woodard went 5-7 with four RBIs, three steals and four runs scored. Outfielder Manuel Lopez finished a double short of the cycle in game two, and starters Andy Rivera and Peyton Wigginton combined to go for 10.2 innings on the day while allowing just three runs.
Next time you head to Reese Smith Field, plant yourself in section 102, seat six, for a few innings. Get in on the fun with Bill Schenck, and, most importantly, don't forget to bring a couple of cheeseburgers.
If you've spent time in Alumni Memorial Gym, Dean Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium, MTSU softball complex or Adams Tennis Center, you've probably noticed the man with the faded Pegasus on his MTSU hat and old brown zip-up hoodie, too.
Both are one in the same, and that man is Manchester native Bill Schenck.
On Feb. 18, the Blue Raider baseball team was preparing for a twin-bill in their season-opening series against the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Fifteen minutes before first pitch, Schenck took his seat in section 102 and was immediately greeted by Kathy Aucker, mother of Blue Raider designated hitter Aaron Aucker, and learned he'd made it in the photo album Kathy made for her son.
Prior to the national anthem, assistant women's tennis coach Olaya Garrido Rivas stopped to poke fun at "the girls' number-one fan" for coming to baseball but not traveling to Florida for the women's tournament. Bill jokingly replied, "I always gotta stick with baseball," in his New York accent. After sharing a quick laugh, Rivas quickly reassured the Long Island native that "the girls really appreciate you and love when you come to watch."
After the first pitch was thrown, the passion Bill is known for was immediately displayed. Blue Raider starter Andy Rivera eliminated the Leathernecks in order and Schenck belted out "Get those hot bats outta the microwave oven! Let loose the fury of your bats!"
Almost as if Schenck willed it to happen, Middle Tennessee jumped out to an early 6-1 lead after three innings, with Aucker driving in the fifth and sixth runs in the third via the long ball.
That passion Schenck has for MTSU goes back as far as Aucker's third-inning home run.
Schenck is a former student, having attained both a bachelor's and master's in engineering. While working on his master's in 2014, Schenck stopped by the ballpark one night to gaze through the fence at the action.
A foul ball was hit out of the park down the third base line where Schenck was, and he returned the ball to the equipment manager.
"After I gave him the ball, he said 'why don't you come in?'" Schenck said. "I told him, 'No, I can't,' and he goes, 'Sure you can, it's free, just follow me.'"
After picking out section 102, seat five, Schenck found out he could sit there by simply showing his student ID. Once he graduated, Schenck began teaching engineering at MTSU in the Voorhies Engineering Technology building and became a season-ticket holder.
Although the man sitting along the first base line is loud, the respect he shows to everyone on and off the field is what people are drawn toward.
"These are peoples' parents sitting down here. If I had a kid down there and somebody was doing anything other than encouraging him, I'd be mad at me," Schenck said.
That encouragement has crafted many bonds with players' families.
"I talk a lot with Mr. (Allen) Hoffmann (father of former pitcher Nathan Hoffmann), the (Riley) Delgado family and the Wyricks," Schenck said.
Karen, mother of pitcher Jake Wyrick, even went as far as to purchase Bill a ticket to the end-of-the-year banquet two seasons ago.
"She told me, 'You are coming to the end of the season baseball banquet,'" Schenck said. "After I told her I didn't know, she told me they already got me a ticket, you're coming."
After Middle Tennessee jumped out to an 8-1 advantage after four innings, Western Illinois put together a stretch of five unanswered runs to narrow the gap to 8-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
With it being 72 degrees, Bill had slipped off his brown zip-up hoodie in the early stages of the contest.
Noticing the Leathernecks were clawing their way back, Schenck declared, "I gotta get this jacket back on."
Over the final three innings, Middle Tennessee tacked on three important insurance runs to push the score to the eventual final of 11-7.
In the second game, Schenck never removed the jacket, and the Blue Raiders cruised to a 9-3 win and their first home-opener sweep since 2009.
As the skies darkened, Schenck's remarks of, "There's a crime wave in Murfreesboro, bases are being stolen everywhere," and, "Beep, beep, beep," after foul balls entertained the crowd and brought about several loud cheers from fellow fans.
"You gotta keep it fun. It keeps the fans in the game," Schenck said.
The players also did their part to keep Bill and the Blue Raider faithful active. In both games, shortstop LA Woodard went 5-7 with four RBIs, three steals and four runs scored. Outfielder Manuel Lopez finished a double short of the cycle in game two, and starters Andy Rivera and Peyton Wigginton combined to go for 10.2 innings on the day while allowing just three runs.
Next time you head to Reese Smith Field, plant yourself in section 102, seat six, for a few innings. Get in on the fun with Bill Schenck, and, most importantly, don't forget to bring a couple of cheeseburgers.
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
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