The Lindenwood - Fall 2020

16 17 FALL 2020 EDITION FALL 2020 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD THE LINDENWOOD ATHLETICS LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY ROAD TO THE BIG LEAGUES LINDENWOOD FOOTBALL TEAMS UP WITH LOCAL POLICE In just four years, Geoff Hartlieb has gone from Lindenwood Lion to Pittsburgh Pirate. His hard work and dedication led him to become one of the key relief pitchers for the Pirates in his second season in Major League Baseball. The path for Hartlieb has been unique, but with a close-knit family he was able to reach his goals. Hartlieb transferred to Lindenwood University after spending one season playing basketball at Quincy University. The Highland, Ill. native chose to play baseball for the Lions, a decision that would sculpt his future. When he joined the Lindenwood baseball program, the long 6-6 right-handed pitcher immediately had an impact on the team. His success began to catch the eyes of MLB scouts heading into the 2015 MLB Draft, and talks about him being drafted began to surface. As Hartlieb and the Lions were making a push for the conference tournament in the spring of 2015, he was hit with the sad news about his mom being put on hospice care with lung cancer. Hartlieb went home for a few weeks, was no longer working out, and questioned his return to St. Charles for the rest of the season. After the passing of his mom, Hartlieb was selected by the New York Mets in the 37th round of the 2015 MLB Draft, but he held on to something bigger than the game of baseball. “My mom always wanted me to graduate. She always wanted me to finish school and that was something that was instilled in my sister and I at a young age. I think falling that low in the draft happened for a reason.” Hartlieb returned to Lindenwood for his senior season and carried the memory of his mom with him on the brim of his hat. “Every time before I pitch, I have some stuff written on my hat to think about my mom and center myself to remember that there is stuff bigger than what I am doing in that moment. My parents did a great job raising me and my sister, and I think they gave us the tools to get through the tough times.” Baseball serves as a therapeutic escape for the mind during rough times, and the team companionship at Lindenwood helped Hartlieb through one of the toughest periods in his life. Hartlieb closed out his collegiate career in 2016 and was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 29th round. After nearly three years in the minors, Hartlieb got the call to the big leagues on May 17, 2019. Just one day later he made his MLB debut, a moment the Highland High School product will never forget. “I was nervous when they called my name, like super nervous. As soon as they called my name my stomach flipped over and my heart started racing.” Hartlieb continued, “I’ll never forget walking out for the first time, and it’s just a huge stadium (Petco Park). The guys in the bullpen were telling me not to look up at the third deck, but I did anyway. Once I actually got out there it’s pretty simple, it’s the same game you’ve been playing your whole life.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 baseball season was unique and forced many to change their everyday living. With games nearly every day and sometimes two games in a day, the down time for Hartlieb was important to get away from the game. “It was a weird season with a lot of challenges,” said Hartlieb. “It was taxing both physically and mentally, but it was a lot better when my wife and my dog were in town.” Hartlieb has many memories as he completed his second season in the majors. While some may just see a baseball, the 26-year old carries a different memory with each one. “I have given my dad a lot of them (baseballs) over the years, he’s got one from every level I’ve played. I have my first out at Busch Stadium, I’ve got my first win, and my first pitched ball. To be able to say you got a win in the major leagues, it’s still kind of hard to believe it actually happened.” During the 2020 regular season, Hartlieb had one of the better seasons in the Pirates bullpen. With a 3.63 ERA over the span of 22.1 innings pitched, Hartlieb earned the respect from his peers. At the conclusion of the season, Hartlieb ranked fourth in the National League in percentage of inherited runners stranded, demonstrating his dependability in tight spots. From a young St. Louis Cardinals fan to a Lindenwood Lion, Hartlieb has now made his mark on the game of baseball at the highest level. With the topic of racial injustice and division among the American people, the Lindenwood football team took steps toward bringing the local community closer together. Shortly after the death of George Floyd, tensions began to increase and caused many to ask “why”. The Lindenwood Athletics Department released a statement, recognizing the racial divide and vowing to help create change in our country. Lindenwood football head coach Jed Stugart and his team took action as they collaborated with the local police department to create healthy conversation in hopes of building a positive change in the world. The Lions teamed up with St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer and St. Charles Chief of Police Randy McKinley to bring open and honest dialogue to the table. With nearly two dozen in attendance, people with diverse backgrounds gathered in a room to better understand how to close the gap of racial injustice and social division in the country. Lindenwood was represented by many different backgrounds, including many African American student- athletes who spoke on their encounters with law enforcement. Likewise, the local police representatives provided their experiences and viewpoints to provide better understanding for all in attendance. Since the first meeting, the Lions have met with the multiple police chiefs and police officers around the St. Charles community. LINDENWOOD ATHLETICS GEOFF HARTLIEB GEOFF HARTLIEB My mom always wanted me to graduate. She always wanted me to finish school and that was something that was instilled in my sister and I at a young age. I think falling that low in the draft happened for a reason. I was nervous when they called my name, like super nervous. As soon as they called my name my stomach flipped over and my heart started racing. Geoff pitching at Lindenwood University Geoff taking the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates