Friday Features: Union outfielder unfazed by physical challenges
By Maurice Patton
As the start of the baseball season looms for
Union centerfielder
Shane Wilder, his biggest issue these days is his ankle, which requires him to visit the training room an hour before practice.
Considering that the Florida native was born without a left hand, that’s really saying something.
Wilder, a sophomore transfer from Coker College in South Carolina, has been proving himself athletically from Day One, to the point that his physical handicap – his arm basically stops at his wrist -- is hardly a point of conversation.
“He doesn’t use it as an excuse,” first-year Union coach Lee Driggers said. “He’s a very positive person. He’s a catalyst, an encourager, and that probably comes from the struggles he’s had.”
Slated to start this weekend against Bethel (Tenn.) and Blue Mountain (Miss.), these early games will mark Wilder’s first official collegiate contests, after redshirting two years ago at Coker and missing last season with a knee injury. His arrival last fall in Jackson was just another chance to impress.
“Coaches have definitely doubted me in the beginning,” he said. “I’ve had coaches treat me differently when they haven’t seen me play. But once they see me play, they realize I’m just as good as anybody with two hands.”
Count Driggers among those. Wilder was extended a scholarship offer by the previous coaching staff at Union, but a telephone conversation with Driggers ultimately convinced him to sign before the two met face to face.
“You’ve seen Jim Abbott,” Driggers said, referring to the former pitcher who won the Golden Spikes college baseball award and was an Olympic gold medalist, threw a no-hitter and spent 10 seasons in the major leagues despite missing a right hand. “But Shane’s an outfielder.
“I just took his handicap out of the equation and tried to evaluate him like any player. He didn’t want it to be a disadvantage or an advantage. He showed very quickly that ‘I can do anything I need to do – catch, throw, hit, bunt. He’s amazed me as far as what he can do and how he can do it.”
Figuring out how to compete is just something Wilder has done, regardless of the sport. As a youngster, he played football, basketball and soccer in addition to baseball.
“Defensively, I’ve got good arm strength, I’ve got good speed, I take good routes (to the ball),” he said. “Offensively, I’m not a power guy. I’m more of a line-drive, singles and doubles kind of guy.”
“He bats left-handed, so his right hand is his front hand,” Driggers said. “He’s basically got his left ‘hand’ on the bat for balance. But he can go the opposite way, he can pull the ball, as long as he lays off the pitches he can’t handle.”
As impressive as what he brings to the field, though, is Wilder’s demeanor in the dugout and away from the game.
Driggers was particularly impressed when he and Wilder were invited to speak at an elementary school in Jackson.
“We spoke about great baseball players that had overcome obstacles, and I shared and he shared, and he was amazing sharing with those young people,” Driggers said. “He’s an engineering major and a great student, he’s a strong believer and a very hard worker.
“He’s a leader and an encourager.”
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Past Friday Features
11/07/2014 - NCAA Leader Chloe Richards Finds a Home at UNA.
11/14/2014 - Revival of a Rivalry.
11/21/2014 - VSU's Margaret Stauffer Finds Strength in Team, Family.
11/28/2014 - Union Off and Running.
12/05/2014 - UWA Coach Ray Stanfield Pushes Cross Country Teams to Top.
12/12/2014 - CBU Men's Basketball Making Noise.
12/19/2014 - Dickey Says UWG Football 'Right on Schedule'.
12/26/2014 - Youngsters Lead UWF Women.
1/02/2015 - UAH's Owens Rebounds From Car Crash With New Appreciation for Life, Basketball.
1/09/2015 - Freshmen Building Base for Lee Women's Success.
1/16/2015 - UWA's Chad Toocheck Overcame Addiction Lows to Reach Highs on Field.
1/23/2015 - Basketball Court at Delta State Named For a 'Legend'.
1/30/2015 - Shorter Basketball Coaches Celebrate Milestones Victories.