Milwaukee Panthers Baseball in Quarantine

With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing sports to a screeching halt, the Milwaukee Panthers baseball team is trying their best to cope with not being able to play the game they love.  

The team was about a month into the season until it came to an abrupt end due to the Coronavirus.  

Jack Thelen is a junior and the starting catcher for the Panthers. He was shocked to say the least that everything happened so quickly but is doing his best to cope with being away from his teammates.  

“I’m doing well for the most part,” said Thelen. “At first when our season was canceled, I was devastated. But putting all of this into perspective definitely helped me get over it.”   

Thelen feels that he’s been making the most of his time away from the game.  

“My roommates and I put together a weight room in our garage which worked out better than we expected,” Thelen said. “The batting cage is up at “The Hank” so we have been hitting there as well.”   

Thelen is also lucky to have pitchers around the Milwaukee area to catch for and take live at-bats.  

He is a West Bend, Wisconsin native but is living in Milwaukee with his current and former teammates.  

“I miss seeing my teammates every, but I know they’re making the most of the situation and not giving into it,” said Thelen.  

Being away from baseball makes you realize how much you love it, according to Thelen. He has played baseball his whole life, from Little League, to West Bend Warriors and now a Milwaukee Panther. Being a college baseball player, you are around the game all year.  

“We never get the opportunity to sit back and realize that we take it for granted,” Thelen said.  

Thelen is excited to be granted another year of eligibility due to COVID-19, but he is also happy to be playing with the seniors for an extra year.  

“I’m very happy we get another year, but I’m happier for the seniors,” said Thelen. “I couldn’t imagine getting your senior season taken away from you without any recompense” 

Mike Ferri is a senior and didn’t really know what to think when he almost lost his last year of playing college baseball. 

“Since everything has happened, I have been on a roller coaster of emotions,”Ferri said. “With what was supposed to be my last season taken away from me, I was furious.”   

Ferri was in disbelief when he first found out that he would never be able to play college baseball again.  

“It really makes you think how life can take a sharp turn at any moment,” said Ferri. “Since then, I‘ve become grateful for the opportunity that I now have in front of me: to go pursue a master’s degree from UWM.”   

Like Thelen, Ferri has been focusing on school and training hard for next season.  

As a senior, Ferri feels grateful that he was granted another season by the NCAA due to COVID-19.  

“I think the thing that I’m most looking forward to is just being around all the guys for another year,” said Ferri. “This team has become more than just a team. We’re a family and I can’t wait to get back to work with my brothers.”   

Head Coach Scott Doffek was blown away that everything happened so quickly and the season was canceled due to COVID-19. 

“I was certainly disappointed,” said Doffek. “We were about an hour away from leaving for our first conference games of the season when it was all cancelled.”  

Even though the season came to an abrupt end, Doffek is still planning ahead for next season. 

The NCAA banned in person recruiting indefinitely, so Doffek has been working virtually and trying to figure out which direction to go with the new roster.  

“I’ve been going through a lot of recruiting and some tough conversations with our current roster,” Doffek said.  

As tough as it is being away from the team, Doffek is certainly making the best of what he can.  

“I am calling or texting them weekly,” said Doffek. “We have them doing in-home workouts and some visual training through a baseball app.”  

At this point, nobody knows what is going to happen in the sports world and how this will affect playing games in the future.  

“I don’t know what to think right now,” said Doffek. “Like everyone else, we are just trying to learn what this new normal feels like.”   

The only way sports could return this summer is if there are no fans in attendance, according to Dr. Fauchi.  

“I sure hope we can get past this sooner than later and we can get back to everyone enjoying the game,” said Doffek. “Spectators included!”   

Even though their ended unexpectedly, the Milwaukee Panthers baseball team is still making the most of their time during this quarantine are looking forward to being back on field once again for another season.