In-depth with our sports seniors

Andrew Gaines: The dream

Derek Gibbons- Sports Editor
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: Sports

Whether pitching at Shea Stadium or Fenway Park, Andrew Gaines was up at sunrise along with his brother and neighborhood kids playing the game of baseball.

"One of my fondest memories as a kid is definitely playing baseball in my old neighborhood," said Gaines. "I would wake up almost every morning with my brother and go out and play with the neighborhood kids until it got dark. Whether it was hardball, with a tennis ball, or wiffleball, we found some kind of baseball game to play. We used to have different fields in each others yards, and pretended we were playing at Shea Stadium and Fenway Park."

Gaines, a pitcher for the College, has always been interested in the game of baseball. Even as a kid the game was always on his mind. He would find himself with a ball and glove on his hand constantly. Even when no one wanted to play, the game just seemed to find him.

"There's no other game like baseball," said Gaines. "It's the thinking man's game and it's all about proving yourself over and over again. I've always had a true passion for baseball and its history. I could spend all day with a ball and glove when I was a kid. I couldn't do that with any other sports. I used to throw a rubber ball against a wall or a set of steps outside for hours when no one else wanted to play."

Influenced by his father and grandfather, he took to the game quickly and was an instant fan. His dad always believed in him and really taught Gaines about work ethic. At the age of seven, Gaines' grandfather signed him up to play for a team.

"I can still remember my first practice. I could barely catch the ball," said Gaines.

Growing up, Gaines always had a second shadow behind him. His brother, Danny, who is a freshman at the College and also pitches for the team, followed in Gaines's footsteps. Once they both hit high school, baseball was the only sport for them and it was something they would excel at. There is one thing Gaines does envy of his little brother though.

"I've always been jealous of the fact that he's a lefty, but in a good way," said Gaines.

The two were always competitive with each other growing up and it resulted in them brawling with each other over the game. When they were not fighting, they were exceeding the limitations of baseball. Now on the same team in college, it is a new experience for the both of them.

"It's definitely a new experience to be playing on the same team together at such a high level," said Gaines, "but then again it's just like playing in the yard again. We've always been really close, and you get to really see how far both of us have come. We both have the dream.

Gaines expects nothing but the best out of his brother this season. He expects him to work hard and earn a spot where he can be a big part of what the team can do this year.

"I expect myself to lead the way for him," said Gaines. "All I can say is, coming from someone who has played with the kid since we were four and seven years old, he's going to be a really good pitcher."

Gaines was never really given the chance to show his stuff on the mound in high school. In his senior year, he was only given one start on the mound. To prove his high school coach wrong, Gaines went 6-0 in his first six starts here at the college.

"I consider myself really lucky to have come to a college baseball program with a coaching staff that really knows the game. It's something that I never was really used too," said Gaines.

Gaines was originally recruited by a couple of schools, including Westfield State, but decided to attend MCLA and try his luck as a walk-on.

"The school has a good baseball history, so I wanted to come here to be a part of it and help the program out," said Gaines.

One of Gaines' strongest outings came as freshman against Springfield College. He pitched eight strong innings with five strikeouts and got the win.

"Springfield College was always a good local team in my area so it was good to get a win against them," said Gaines.

Before leaving the school and looking ahead, Gaines has one thing he wishes to accomplish on the diamond and to himself.

"I just really want to reach my full potential," said Gaines. "I want to leave North Adams knowing that I did everything I could to be the best pitcher that I could possibly be. Once I reach that goal, I'd like to see where I'm at."

Gaines can say the same thing about this year's team. He believes this year to be the year the team can do something big as long as everyone works towards it.

"There's no reason why we can't tear this conference apart," said Gaines. "We've been through way too much to not get it done and fill that one empty spot on the banner."