Intense Ball Player Chad Keefer Is So Energetic When He Plays For Sfcc, You Can Get Tired Just Watching Him

If you could muster up the endurance, it would be interesting to see what would happen if you were to somehow catch Spokane Falls Community College outfielder Chad Keefer long enough to discover the mystery of his energy.

The 1999 Lake City graduate is on the go 24-7-365.

“He is like that at every practice and every game, said teammate Justin Folkins. “You can get tired just watching him.

While patrolling the outfield, he charges full steam to scoop up a slow roller or back up a possible throw to third. At bat, a routine grounder never is a routine out as he burns down the line just in case the ball is misplayed. Even when he isn’t playing, he chases down foul balls to keep the game going smoothly.

He doesn’t do it to show anyone up, nor is he trying to impress anyone. He does it out of pure love for the game.

It’s that type of bravado that got him noticed in the eyes of SFCC coach Dave Keller. Keller didn’t know much about Keefer, didn’t even have any stats on him. What he did have was an eyewitness account. Keller spotted Keefer during a American Legion tournament in Wenatchee last summer and instantly became a fan.

“I couldn’t believe the intensity he displayed,” said Keller. “His enthusiasm for the game was contagious. I liked the way he controlled himself around the plate. I liked his aggression, his hustle, his whole make-up as a player. I thought he was exactly what I needed to fill my No. 2 spot in the lineup and in the outfield.”

“To make it in this game you have to really love the game,” said Lake City’s coach Corey Bridges. “And that is what Chad does. You can see it when he plays that he really loves baseball. He was as hard of a working ball player I ever coached.”

Batting second is not a glamourous place in the lineup. It’s the spot in the order that requires speed and sacrifice. It’s for the unselfish player whose job is to move runners over and allow other players to get the glory.

“I have never been really too concerned with my stats,” said Keefer. “But the stats that are important to me is my batting average and on-base percentage. If those numbers are up then that means I am doing my job for the team.”

He has great speed and is an excellent bunter, said Bridges. “Those two elements makes him a dangerous offensive weapon. With his speed he can not only move runners over, but also leg out a lot of infield base hits.”

Keefer currently is hitting .355 and his on-base percentage is .467.

That may be a little lower then Keefer is used to, but they are numbers he knows he has earned. With colleges reverting to wood bats, many players are having to relearn the fundamentals of hitting.

“You could get away with a lot more with an metal bat,” said Keefer. “There is a bigger sweet spot and a lot of times you’d hit one badly and it would still fall in for a hit. With a wood bat you have to know yourself better as a hitter.”

Keller concurs that going back to wood is better for all the baseball players.

“I don’t know of a single sport where there is such a difference between the amateur and the professional with equipment.” Keller said. “The hitter can get away with more and starts getting away with bad habits. Using a wood bat you have to be quicker and learn how to hit.”

Spokane Falls is hosting a six-team tournament this weekend that will give Keefer a chance to showcase his talents and get some work in the outfield, his new favorite position.

“I played a lot in the infield until Coach Bridges moved me into left and right field my senior year,” Keefer said. “I really started to appreciate it more. You have to chase down a lot of flies and you can’t make a mistake without it costing the team. I like running down a long ball that could have been extra bases and turning it into an out.”

Keefer attributes his positive attitude to his supportive family.

“My parents (Carolyn and Ron) have been my biggest fans ever since I started playing,” said Chad. “They come to every game and cheer you on and it doesn’t matter how old you are, you just feel good knowing that they are there for you.”

Keefer hopes to have another four years of playing while studying to go into sports medicine.

“I don’t know how much longer I will get to play,” he said. “So I want to go into sports medicine so I will always be part of the game, be in on the action.”