Written by Kayla McCloud

The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) baseball team looks to make their 2020 season a continuation of their success from previous years. There are many key components that will have an impact on how this team performs, including the new coaching staff as well as the return of some key players. One of these key players includes senior Mateo Calle, who looks to end his collegiate career with a strong season.

Calle had 37 starts last season as the designated hitter (DH). During those 37 starts, he had a total of 127 at-bats where he scored 26 runs on 47 hits, including three home runs. In addition to this, Calle contributed 28 RBI’s and eight stolen bases off of 12 attempts. These statistics show an improvement from the previous year where he had a total of 8 runs off of 17 at-bats and one RBI.

Calle’s journey with baseball is one that is unlike many others. While most people decided upon playing sports at CUC because of their own personal choices, Calle was brought here without much knowledge of what he was getting himself into. Calle put his faith into the game and the people helping him continue to play the game and ended up in Chicago. The journey to River Forest was one that he didn’t make alone, coming all the way from Colombia with two of his closest friends, all in search of a chance to play baseball.

Calle began playing baseball at seven years old in his home country of Colombia. The game quickly grew into his passion, becoming the place for him to release all of his emotions. He said that baseball has influenced his life in many ways, teaching him that not everything in life will be successful, as well as teaching him discipline and how to be responsible.

As Calle grew older, he got involved with the organization “More Than A Game” which helped bring him and two other players from Colombia to the United States to play baseball. Representatives of “More Than A Game” created videos of Calle, and his two teammates, Jose Mercado and Abe Paz, who both graduated from CUC last year. Then sent the videos to smaller colleges across the United States until they were picked up by a junior college in California for two years before moving to Chicago, where his sponsor lives.

Calle’s sponsor, Bret Brizzolara, said that “He’s so proud to be who he is; a Colombian, a Cougar”. Brizzolara went on to talk about how Calle has grown the last few years and that, “he has grown more than any of the three Colombians, and that says a LOT because all of them have grown in so many ways.”

There’s a lot for Calle to love about the game of baseball, but being able to work on a team and see that you’re going to fail more than you’re going to succeed, but still come out in a positive way is something that he will always be thankful for.

“Also, the feeling of hitting a baseball is awesome!!” Calle said when asked about what his favorite part of the game is. Calle’s favorite part of playing at CUC is the culture because “even though it’s a Division III school we practice and play as if we’re playing at a higher level.”

After graduating from CUC, Calle is hoping to stay in the baseball environment by coaching or managing a team at either a college or professional level. Be sure to catch Calle and the rest of the Cougar baseball team in the spring as they prepare to take on a tough season under their new coaching staff.