— Story by Taylor Kennedy
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Marshall Thundering Herd baseball team is getting a player who is ready to earn his spot on the roster and become a leader in the locker room immediately.
Hurricane centerfielder Austin Dearing has worked for everything he has earned. He is continuing to work on his craft during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He has had some help keeping his body in shape to maintain that baseball physique for the collegiate level.
“I’ve been working out in my friend’s garage,” says Dearing. “We’ve been going at it. We’ve been trying to throw as much as we can. We don’t have a lot to work with, but we’re just trying to do what we can.”
Dearing played basketball and baseball since his freshman year at Hurricane. He was on the 2018 Class AAA state championship baseball team that defeated Wheeling Park 11-5. When it came to deciding what sport to pursue at the collegiate level he chose baseball.
In September of 2018, Dearing officially announced via Twitter that he would continue his athletic career with the Marshall Thundering Herd baseball team and head coach Jeff Waggoner. Dearing chose the Herd by the way he has seen previous players grow, and he has seen how those players have achieved their personal goals. He gives a lot of credit to the coaching staff.
Blessed and excited to announce my commitment to Marshall University to continue my baseball and academic career! #goherd @HerdBaseball @Karlet24 pic.twitter.com/2sq4HzWDP4
— Austin Dearing (@austindearing35) September 8, 2018
“Tremendous coaching staff. They’re very helpful. They can help players develop. My end goal is to get drafted,” says Dearing. “They’re going to help me work. I want to work with them as a team.”
This past season, Dearing served as the team captain of the Redskins basketball team. He gives credit to basketball for showing him how to become a better leader. He says that what he has learned on the hardwood allowed him to become a better leader out on the diamond.
Dearing wants to replicate those leadership qualities and try and become that leader with the Herd. He wants his personal attributes to rub off on his teammates. He hopes what he displays motivates his teammates.
“I want to be a leader. You can be a leader no matter how old you are. I want to bring my energy and influence other players,” says Dearing. “I feel like I can help. I could make a difference on that team. “It takes the whole team to do it. It doesn’t take one person.”
Going into year one with the Herd, Dearing is ready to continue improving at his game as a whole. But, his quickness in the outfield is where he wants to take the biggest stride next season.
“I need to improve my speed. I’ve always been fast, but I need to get to that next level,” says Dearing.
Dearing and eleven other incoming freshmen will battle for playing time with Marshall. He will also be the one of four new players from West Virginia. The other three players are Hurricane teammate Tyler Cox, Parkersburg Catholic’s Patrick Copen and Ayden Hodges of St. Albans.