ST. PAUL, Minn. – Throughout the duration of the spring semester, cspbears.com will feature its spring senior student-athletes who had their careers cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), providing a glimpse into their past, present and future to our followers who were unable to see them compete in 2020.
Due to the ongoing changing legislation with college athletics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring student-athletes are expected to retain a year of eligibility. Some of the CSP seniors have expressed interest in returning for the 2020-21 academic year with the goal of competing for their full senior year. Since it's early in the process, cspbears.com will not differentiate between seniors who will and won't return and instead will profile each senior consistently.
Up next in the senior spotlight series is a Golden Bear mainstay at shortstop for the CSP baseball team,
Patrick Bordewick. Bordewick, a sport management major and coaching minor from St. Louis Park, Minn., has started 144 of a possible 149 games at shortstop during his four years at Concordia.
A .270 career hitter with 132 career hits in 489 at-bats, Bordewick has improved at the plate in each of his four seasons, leading the team with a .301 average as a junior before bettering that mark to .311 in 13 games this season. The St. Louis Park HS grad has reached base at a .335 clip while delivering seven home runs and 68 RBIs while scoring 67 times. In the field, his 301 career assists are third-most in the DII-era at Concordia while his 62 double plays turned rank fifth. Bordewick has fielded at a .922 clip over his four seasons.
This season, Bordewick got off to a great start with a .311/.407/.400 slash line while driving in 10 runs in just 13 games. He added a homer and a double while scoring seven times.
Head coach Neil Lerner on Patrick Bordewick:
"Patrick has been our everyday starting shortstop since his freshman year and has been a key contributor to our success on the field during the last four years. He's improved every year and is now one of the best shortstops in the NSIC. Additionally, Patrick has been a great leader and did a tremendous job as one of our captains this year. His ability to bring our team together and be a consistent positive presence in our program has been invaluable."
PATRICK BORDEWICK – IN HIS OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing your sport?
PB: I began playing baseball when I was 3 years old. I started playing in the yard with my brother and my dad.
CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
PB: I chose to attend Concordia because they gave me an opportunity to continue playing baseball while getting a great education.
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
PB: My favorite memory as a Golden Bear was probably my sophomore year at the conference tournament. We were playing really good baseball and it was just a ton a fun. I also would say this year in Arizona was a highlight of my career because we enjoyed every second of it and we played good baseball as a team.
CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
PB: I will miss a lot of things about CSP. Something I will miss the most is being on campus and close to all my friends. I will miss this year's team and the brotherhood we had.
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
PB: I plan on getting my master's degree while using my extra year of eligibility next year.
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
PB: I see myself working in the athletic department at a university, whether that is a baseball coach or an athletic director. I have a love and passion for college sports and it is something that is very special to me.
CSP: Who is a staff or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
PB: My baseball coaches Lunch Mckenzie and Neil Lerner have left such a positive impact on my life. I have learned so much more than just baseball from these two people. They teach you how to be a great person and they really help set you up for the next 40 years of your life. I am very grateful to have learned so much from both of them.
CSP: Who is your role model?
PB: My role model is my dad. He has taught me so much and has always been there for me. I hope to be the man he is one day!
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
PB: I learned to never take anything for granted. I also learned the importance of teamwork and how powerful it is to have 40 people on the same page. I learned a lot from myself and personal failures to help grow into a better person.
CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
PB: To enjoy every second of it because it will be the best time of your life. Focus more on being a great teammate and friend than being worried about playing. If you take care of yourself off the field and in the classroom the results will show on the field.
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
PB: I admire my girlfriend, Cassidy Leininger, on the lacrosse team. She has faced a lot of adversity in her college career and I couldn't be prouder of her and her teammates for the way they have handled it. She has always been there for me and I couldn't be more thankful!
CSP: Do you have a final personalized message you'd like to share with cspbears.com readers?
PB: I just want to say these last four years have been the best years of my life. I am so happy I came to CSP because I got to play the game I love, I met lifelong friends, and have been able to grow and mature into a better person than when I stepped onto this campus.
