Two members of the LVC baseball team completed exciting summer internships in the world of baseball. Sam Dozier '25 and Tony Bennage '23 spent their summers interning in positions that allowed them to combine what they've learned in their majors with their passion for athletics and competition. Dozier held a videographer position as a part of Bat Boys Baseball, a rapidly growing social media presence, and Bennage enjoyed an inside look at the scouting world working for Prep Baseball Report.

Bat Boys Baseball is the brainchild of one of Dozier's high school friends. What started as a small account interviewing baseball players exploded and now boasts more than 300,000 followers across their platforms. As part of this experience, Dozier traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa., and Washington, D.C., to conduct pre-game interviews with players from Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates. 

"When my friend asked if I could help out, I jumped at the opportunity," said Dozier, a pitcher on the Flying Dutchmen squad. "We had grown up playing baseball together and always looked at the athletes as role models, so this concept was an awesome way to personalize those players."

Dozier used the skills he'd gained as part of his digital communications (DCOM) major to film the interviews and develop unique and entertaining questions to ask the players. 

"I used concepts from some of the DCOM courses, such as Storytelling for Digital Media, to ensure that the video was easy and enjoyable to watch. This opportunity taught me that everyone is human and not to be afraid to ask questions or try new things," said Dozier.

Looking back on his experience, Dozier said his trip to PNC Park in Pittsburgh—a field he's always wanted to visit—included the added bonus of a $200 food stipend that led to an "Eating Everything at PNC Park" video to showcase the ballpark's various delicious eats.

Bennage, meanwhile, was helping to run high school showcases with Prep Baseball Report (PBR) in Pennsylvania and New York. He assisted with events, including the 60-yard dash and throwing, pitching, and hitting sessions. He cites the leadership training he received at LVC as a key reason for his internship success and appreciates that Prep Baseball Report taught him how to think on his feet.

"The practical experiences I learned about included reacting to changing situations as you go about the different events. There are times where you need to be able to think clearly through stress and comprehend what is occurring while also trying to fix the problem on the spot," said Bennage, a pitcher and actuarial science major.

Brennage, who connected with PBR through LVC coaches Jonas Fester and Beth Woerner, is excited to have found future career opportunities in the game. 

"I have always wished to have a way to stay in baseball once my playing career was going to be over, and this allowed me to find a pathway that would allow for this to happen, but also still love what I was going to be doing daily," said Bennage. "I did not just have to become a coach. I could also become a scout and help these kids work to live out their dreams from when they were first starting this amazing game."