May 7, 2009 - courtesy Maryville University sports information
MARYVILLE BASEBALL SHOWS TRUE MEANING OF TEAMWORK

ST. LOUIS - On February 8, at 2:30 a.m. a fire raged through the family home of Tyler Schmitz in Festus, Mo. The blaze wreaked havoc on the entire structure and claimed everything in its path.

Schmitz was looking forward to his senior season as a member of the Maryville University baseball team, a squad that was picked to finish second in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) standings. He was 3-3 on the mound in 2008 as a relief pitcher and had worked extremely hard in the off season to prepare for his final season.

Instead, he picked up two part-time jobs and an internship to help his family try to make ends meet and get back on their feet financially. Between his jobs and still attending school full-time, Schmitz felt he had to hang up his baseball cleats as there wasn't enough time in the day for him to make practices and games.

"After the tragedy, I talked to Coach Sigler about the whole thing and how I was taking on a few jobs to help my family," said Schmitz. "Before I came out and said that I wasn't going to play this year, he knew that I probably have to leave for the season. That's how great he was about the situation and I could never talk to any of my other baseball coaches the way I talked with him. We talked for a few hours that day, which was a great thing and made it easier to tell my family what was going on."

Schmitz transferred to Maryville in the fall of 2008 from Mineral Area Community College, where he also played baseball.

"I came (to Maryville) last year and we had great leadership and it's a small community," said Schmitz. "Everybody is your friend; no matter where you go, it seems there's always a group of baseball guys there. Coach Sigler and Coach Roush are great supporters. Not only is baseball important, but they push school, which makes it a lot easier on a student because they know how tough classes can be. That was always very impressive from day one when I got here."

"Tyler came last year and I didn't know him prior to that but had played against him in high school and summer ball," said junior Greg Schwartz. "He's the type of person that it doesn't matter what you need, he's the kind of person who's willing to do it. He absolutely loves baseball and being around these guys."

"Tyler's just one of those guys who's always fun to be around," continued senior Bo Bunton. "His competitiveness is one thing that stands out but the fact that he is a team player as well. He's always helping us out and loosens everyone up as he'll act like the Blues goalie and when we throw him short hops he'll knock them down and sometimes take them off his chest. When he's on the mound though, he wants to win."

Members of the baseball team knew that they wanted to help, but it was junior Adam Boyer and Schwartz that took the project upon themselves and came up with the idea to hold a fundraiser on campus.

After the idea was formed, Adam stopped over at Tyler's apartment one night as he needed to pick up a shirt and tie that Tyler had borrowed from him for his internship interview and told him about the fundraiser.

"Some people feel embarrassed (when people offer to help in times of need) and Tyler said our efforts would really help his family a lot and would really appreciate whatever we did," said Boyer. "The reason I went to Greg because I knew he would be as passionate about helping Tyler as I would and would follow through and knew the right people to talk to. Tyler seemed at a loss for words when we told him what we were planning to do."

The entire baseball squad rallied around Schmitz and began a fundraising coin drive to help the Schmitz family in their time of need. Team members wore their jerseys to a Saints basketball doubleheader and collected loose change in their batting helmets. Over the next few days, they also walked around campus throughout the day with their helmets in hand and asked the campus community to help a fellow student. Boyer and Schwartz also met with Director of Athletics, Tony Duckworth, Vice President of Student Life, Dr. Nina Caldwell, Vice President of Enrollment, Jeff Miller, to see what else could be done.

While the team didn't set a specific dollar goal, the thought of Tyler returning for his senior season was in the back of their minds. "It was (in the back of our minds) that if we raised enough he could come back on the team," said Boyer. "This wasn't our primary goal as our main objective was to help him and his family and if he did come back, that was a bonus.

"It's his senior year, this tragedy basically shut down his career," he continued. "For our efforts to indirectly help him come back, was an added bonus to him and to everybody."

The team's efforts raised $1,750, which was deposited in the Schmitz Family Fire Fund at the Bank of America in Festus, Mo. This amount was also enough for Tyler to cut down to just one job during the baseball season.

"(Tyler) was really receptive and was really appreciative (of our efforts)," said Bunton. "When he found out that he was able to play, he went to coach and said 'I want to be able to come back, but I want you to talk to the team to see if it's ok if I come back. If they say it's ok, but if one person objects, I understand. I haven't been with the team the past couple weeks and I don't want to barge in and take someone's spot who's been working really hard'. We talked as a team and it was a unanimous vote. He's that guy that you want around, even when he's not pitching, he's always going to be supporting and help us achieve what we want to do."

The venture did not stop there as the team gave the family a gift card to Applebee's to enjoy a night out together and Schmitz's tuition for the winter semester and his remaining summer classes would be paid for by the university.

"We put $1,750 in the fund and additionally, we met with Jeff Miller and met with Financial Aid and they were able to provide him with tuition for this semester and for a couple classes he needs in the summer which took a huge burden off his shoulders," stated Schwartz. "His parents didn't know about our efforts initially but called them when we put the money in the account and his parents were just ecstatic. Tyler went from working 55-60 hours a week plus going to school full-time. He cut down to one job which was a big difference."

"We told him the amount that would be deposited into the account and the first thing he said was that he would pay us back," stated Boyer. "We said that wasn't the point of our efforts; it's defeating the purpose if he would have done something for us with that money. We did it because we thought of the opportunity and we knew it would help him and his family."

"(The team's) efforts were unbelievable," furthered Schmitz. "I kept (the fundraiser) from my parents until we deposited the money to the fund and just to see my dad's face when I told him was awesome. Not only did the students help, but the faculty, Tony Duckworth, people in student services did a lot for me. They're paying for my two final summer classes, which is amazing. I think my Dad was really happy to hear that my school was paid for more than anything.

I played high school ball, legion ball, I've been to two different Junior Colleges before coming here and I've never felt the experience I do here at Maryville," he continued." At different colleges, the baseball team would divide itself into sub-groups, but here, we all hang out together. "

In his senior season, Schmitz is 1-1 in eight relief appearances on the mound and has struck out 10 batters in his 12.1 innings of work to date.

"He pitched really well last year and he's doing well this year too so it's good to see him back out there," said Boyer.

After graduation, Schmitz will begin his path towards working for the FBI as he will attend the Police Academy in Farmington, Mo. after finishing his summer courses. He plans to work for the Festus police department for two years and then apply to the FBI.

As for his fellow baseball seniors, he sees everyone staying in touch. "I really see us staying in contact after our senior baseball season as we'll all be pretty close geographically," he said. "Us seniors are pretty close as it is, which is pretty neat to see. I know it's going to be a pretty somber day on senior day."

Though its efforts in helping a teammate, the Maryville University baseball team epitomizes the true meaning of teamwork.

Click here to watch the news story by KSDK, Channel 5, the NBC affiliate in St. Louis produced on this story.