Energetic and Matured, Sean Green Taking Advantage of Last Year at EC
By Blake Baxter
Eureka College was Sean Green's last chance to play college baseball.
For the past two years, he's worked to make the most of it. And as his career winds down, he's not taking anything for granted.
"My experience here is …" Green said, trailing off as he searched for the right word. "It's a blessing, actually, because of the route I took."
Since graduating from Limestone High School in 2014, Green has played baseball at three different colleges and taken classes at four, twice leaving the game he loves behind for various reasons. The first time, he thought it might be for good.
But between his passion and a special relationship with a coach, Green found his way back to baseball.
He can vividly remember where he was the first time he realized he wasn't ready to retire: on his couch, watching the 2016 College World Series, studying every pitch and every play.
"I told my mom, 'I need to start playing again,'" Green said, "and she was like, 'Well, go do it. Why are you telling me about it?'"
After that, he found a summer league team to play with in Peoria, which led to him continuing his education and career at Robert Morris-Peoria. During his sophomore season there, he batted .348, had an on-base percentage of .430 and slugged .561 with three doubles, a triple and three home runs as the team's center fielder and leadoff man.
By the end of the season, though, he'd decided he wasn't coming back. Where he was going to go next, however, was an open question.
On July 21, 2017, Green got his answer when Jerry Rashid was named head coach at Eureka after an unparalleled 39-year career coaching high school baseball in central Illinois. But the winner of 800-plus games also coached his son Ben when he was in little league, and Green was on the team.
The two stayed in touch over the years, catching up and trading barbs throughout Green's high school career whenever Limestone played Illinois Valley Central. Rashid used to joke that Green's mother, Chatea – then a teacher in the Peoria Public School District – should come work at IVC and bring her son with her.
Suddenly, all these years later, playing for Rashid again was a real possibility.
"When I first found out Coach Rashid was coming here, I felt like that was my calling," Green said.
He planned to give his old coach a call the following week. Rashid called him first.
"Maybe even the day after," Rashid said. "I knew that he wasn't playing anymore, and I knew he was a talented player. I knew what kind of kid he was. He was my first call out of all the recruits.
"I knew I had a good one, and he's proven that."
"He let me know what he wanted," Green said, "what he expected out of the program, and he said he needed me, so that's how I went on my way."
Green transferred to Eureka in spring 2018 and quickly found a comfortable fit both on campus and with the team. He started forming bonds with new teammates and classmates on Day 1, and reunited with a former high school teammate in Ray Vogel.
"You really don't see a lot of what you see at Eureka anywhere else," Green said. "It's a really unique feeling."
That spring, with a shared mentality of not caring who the other team was, the Red Devils recorded their first 14-win season since 2010 and notched eight St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Wins for the first time since 2012. They also knocked off a ranked opponent for the first time in program history with a win over SLIAC powerhouse Webster.
After the season, Green was the only Red Devil to receive Third Team All-SLIAC honors. He led the team in nine offensive categories and ranked third in the SLIAC with a .488 on-base percentage. In his first year at EC, he hit .394/.488/.620 in 85 plate appearances over 21 SLIAC starts.
When he wasn't setting the tone at the top of the order, Green was either being a menace on the base paths (17 steals) or utilizing his speed, athleticism and baseball IQ to protect every inch of center field. He only committed one error in 72 chances for a .968 fielding percentage.
"He's brought an energy that this program has never had," Rashid said. "He just brings a high energy to the entire team. That's the number one thing you notice about him."
But the coach also said that Green's first year in maroon and gold was all about learning how to harness it. In Year 2, Green isn't just putting up numbers and making daring, flashy plays; he's also become a vital team leader for the first time.
Rashid said what others don't know is how helpful he is to other players of all ages behind the scenes. He's constantly offering words of encouragement and always willing to provide feedback on how to address a flaw.
"He's a guy that everyone on the team looks up to," Rashid said, "coaches included."
When he's on deck at Henry Sand Field, Green revels in interacting with some of his teammates' younger brothers enthusiastically cheering for the Red Devils while decked out in EC gear on the other side of the fence.
"They love watching me play and they love watching us play," Green said. "I bring them in sometimes to the gate and let them meet guys. They love that. They have so much joy. Just to see the smiles on their face every day, it's great."
With 20 steals, Green has already swiped more bags this season than any Red Devil since Dan Askew's 23 in 2005. He's third in the league in batting average at .409, second in stolen bases and is at least tied for leading EC in eight offensive categories. He's also yet to slip up in center field, tallying 48 putouts and two assists in 50 chances while making an array of show-stopping grabs.
Now well established as a premier player in the SLIAC, Green's career is down to its last weeks. However, his collegiate education won't conclude until next school year.
A business administration major and a sports management minor, Green hopes to someday start a baseball academy for kids who are less fortunate.
"That's my goal," he said. "I just want to pass my knowledge down to the youth, because that's the only way this thing keeps going."