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.
Kicking off this week in the senior spotlight series is right-handed pitcher
Ross Bastyr. Bastyr, a biology major from Lakeville, Minn., has been a regular contributor out of the bullpen in his three seasons on campus.
The Lakeville North grad made 26 relief appearances for the Golden Bears, working 49.0 innings while compiling a 2-3 record with four saves. Bastyr compiled a 35-to-19 K/BB ratio in his career as he worked in at least five games in each of his three years on the squad.
Bastyr delivered perhaps the best performance of his career in his final appearance this spring in a 3-1 win over Jamestown. The right-hander entered the game in the sixth inning with the Golden Bears clinging to a 2-1 lead and shut down the Jimmies over 4.0 scoreless frames. Bastyr allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out a career-best seven to pick up the save.
Head coach Neil Lerner on Ross Bastyr:
"Ross has been a regular on the mound during his three years at CSP, tying for our team lead in appearances during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. We could always count on Ross to throw strikes and compete on the mound. Ross is a tireless worker who excels not only on the baseball field but also in the classroom. We are so proud of Ross for graduating from CSP in three years and know he will be successful as he begins his graduate studies at the University of Minnesota."
ROSS BASTYR – IN HIS OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing your sport?
RB: I began playing baseball when I was four years old.
CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
RB: I chose to attend Concordia because it was close to home, had a major that would allow me to pursue the career path I wanted and I was able to continue to play with my brother after high school.
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
RB: My favorite memory as a Golden Bear was the final Arizona trip this year. While having a successful trip on the field was for sure fun, what made it even a better memory is all the stuff we did that was not baseball as teammates. Going to University of Arizona basketball/baseball games, driving up a mountain, going to Top Golf, hanging out by the pool, playing MLB The Show (I went 5-6, needed to be better) and have a roommate that probably set the Culver's concrete mixer record for a week. I will always remember the Tucson Culver's on Broadway closes at 10.
CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
RB: Being a part of a team. I may not have enjoyed all the lifting, training room time, practice or bus rides while it was happening, but the time spent together is something that I will always miss.
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
RB: Next year I will be attending pharmacy school at the University of Minnesota.
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
RB: Out of pharmacy school working somewhere as a pharmacist, most likely in Minnesota because I will complain about the weather but never want to leave.
CSP: Who is a staff or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
RB: Dr. Harrison or Dr. Brosnahan because they taught my favorite classes while at Concordia (genetics/microbiology/research) and they both shared their sports fandom (I don't like Duke and go Gophers).
CSP: Who is your role model?
RB: My dad because growing up he was always there if Ryan or I wanted to play catch, or during college even if we were in Arizona and he was unable to be there he would always be able to talk on the phone no matter how late it was in Minnesota or how well or poorly that we played.
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
RB: It was short, but this spring trying to manage school, work and baseball and learning how to budget time and communicate effectively.
CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
RB: Enjoy all of your time because it flies by. It feels like I just walked into my first freshman year class and now it's over.
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
RB: Tyson Kauffman, Football. I might not have always enjoyed labs, but at least I had the best lab partner.
