JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Colin Ludwig, of Chandler, Arizona, plays first base for the Western Nebraska Pioneers. He also sometimes plays third base. Ludwig, who’s in his second year of playing for the Pioneers, is this week’s Nspire Today! Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Ludwig played college baseball for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs before transferring to Embry-Riddle University in Florida. Ludwig is hitting over .400 this summer. The Pioneers were 21-7 heading into Friday’s game against the Badlands Big Sticks.
Q: Talk about where you’re from and what you’ve been doing the last couple years.
LUDWIG: “I grew up in Arizona, and I moved to Florida after high school. I played my first two years of college baseball at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. This last year I transferred to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.”
Q: Why did you decide to transfer to Embry-Riddle?
LUDWIG: “I basically did it for academic reasons. I’m studying mechanical engineering, and they have a really good program there.” Editor’s note: Embry-Riddle is a Division II four-year college.
Q: How are things going for you individually so far this season?
LUDWIG: “It’s been going pretty well. Offensively, I’ve been trying to attack early and be aggressive at the plate, and it’s been working out for me. Defensively, I’ve been doing all right at first base.”
Q: How do you feel the Pioneers have been playing?
LUDWIG: “The team has been doing really well. We’re succeeding on offense and defense and pitching. Everything is coming together, and we’re playing well as a team.”
Q: What were the team’s goals coming into the season?
LUDWIG: “Coming into the season, we wanted to win another championship and dog pile at the end of the year. So far, we just clinched home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs a few nights ago, so we like where we’re at right now.”
Q: How much do you enjoy being part of this team?
LUDWIG: “I love being part of this team. It’s special. Coming out here in the summer, you don’t know anybody, but you make a bunch of new friends. You spend all your time with them traveling from city to city on long bus rides. You really get to know people. It’s just a great experience.”
Q: You also played for the Pioneers last year. For you, is this season just as much fun as last season?
LUDWIG: “Yes. I would come out here every summer if I could. I love the town, and I love the coaches, and I love the atmosphere that the fans bring to every game. I really enjoy it.”
Q: How does this year’s team compare to last year’s team?
LUDWIG: “We’re really good. I think we’re just as good, if not better, than last year’s team. I’m looking forward to seeing what we do the rest of this season.”
Q: How exciting is it to clinch home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs?
LUDWIG: “That’s really exciting. It’s big because our home crowd really helps us out. The fans bring a lot of energy, which makes it tough to beat us at home.”
Q: You play first base most of the time. Has that always been your primary position?
LUDWIG: “No, actually, I played third base for about 10 years growing up. I made the switch to first base a couple years ago, and I’ve been there ever since.”
Q: Did you like switching to first base?
LUDWIG: “It wasn’t a big transition. I enjoy it.”
Q: Why did you switch to first base?
LUDWIG: “I made that change at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and I moved over there just to help the team a little more.”
Q: How much do you enjoy competing for Embry-Riddle?
LUDWIG: “I really like it. We had a good year last year. We made a regional, and we’re looking to build off of that this next season.”
Q: What degree are you pursuing in college?
LUDWIG: “Mechanical engineering. My dad worked in a software department for a couple companies, developing software for rockets and stuff, so I’ve always been around that. Growing up, that’s always what I’ve wanted to do – something in engineering.”
Q: What was the name of the high school that you graduated from?
LUDWIG: “Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona. It’s about 20 minutes south of Phoenix.”
Q: Why did you and your family move to Florida after you graduated from high school?
LUDWIG: “I moved to Merritt Island, Florida, the day after I graduated from high school. My dad got a job out there, and I’ve been there three years now. It’s about 10 minutes east of Cocoa Beach.”
Q: Before that, did you live in Arizona your whole life?
LUDWIG: “Yes, I did – 18 years.”
Q: Did you enjoy growing up in Chandler?
LUDWIG: “Yes. I really liked it. It was really competitive from a sports standpoint. There’s a lot of good athletes down there. That helped me push to improve my skills so I could go on and play at the next level. I also really liked the community there.”
Q: How do you like the Scottsbluff/Gering area compared to other places you’ve lived?
LUDWIG: “I love it here. It’s a really big baseball town. It’s cool to see the whole town out here rallying around us every single night. It’s a lot more relaxed environment here compared to college, so I enjoy that. I just come out here and have fun every day. I love small towns. I like the small town feel. I love being around people in this community and helping out at kids’ camps and things.”
Q: Were you expecting to have strong support from the fans here, or did that surprise you?
LUDWIG: “It kind of caught me by surprise because I knew it was a small town I was coming to. To come out here and see all the support was really cool.”
Q: How did you end up with the Pioneers?
LUDWIG: “Coach Turk gets in touch with everybody. He sees what they’re doing for the summer and asks if they would like to come out here to play baseball. He takes the best guys he can find to come here to try to win a championship. I was actually committed to the junior college that he coaches at [South Mountain Community College] when I was coming out of high school in Arizona. I stayed in touch with him for a couple years, and then he asked me to come out here.”
Q: What kind of an opportunity was this for you, playing for the Pioneers?
LUDWIG: “It’s been a great experience. Last year was probably the best summer of my life. I had a great time here, so I wanted to come back and experience it again.”
Q: Outside of baseball, do you have much free time to do other things?
LUDWIG: “I don’t have a ton of free time because we play every day. We’re on the road a lot. But the free time that we do have, it’s fun hanging out with the other guys on the team.”
Q: What are some of the fun things that you’ve done around this area?
LUDWIG: “We’ve gone on a lot of hikes, like at the Monument and at the Wildcat Hills. We’ve also gone fishing and spent time at the lake. We have a great time together.”
Q: What’s the best restaurant that you’ve eaten at around here?
LUDWIG: “My go-to restaurant has to be Shari’s. After I get up, I work out in the morning, and then that’s my favorite place to go to.”
Q: What do you like to order at Shari’s?
LUDWIG: “I like their cinnamon French toast and a cup of coffee.”
Q: What’s the neatest place that you’ve been to around here?
LUDWIG: “I would say the Monument. Going to the top and seeing everything down below is really cool.”
Q: How much are you going to miss playing for the Pioneers and living in this area?
LUDWIG: “I’ll miss it a lot. This is probably the best baseball experience I’ve had, and I’ve been playing baseball since I was 5 years old. I’ll definitely cherish these memories for the rest of my life.”
Q: What are your host family’s names?
LUDWIG: “Dean and Stephanie Ryan. They have three kids – two are out of the house and one is 15 years old and plays Legion ball.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed having them as your host family?
LUDWIG: “It’s been awesome. They’ve been to every single game. They’re great people to be around. I love hanging out with them and being at their house. I lived with them last summer as well, so coming back here this summer, I wanted to be with them again.”
Q: How much do the host families help the players adjust to playing and living here?
LUDWIG: “They make things a lot easier for the players. We have great host families, and that makes the experience here even better. They give us a lot of support.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
LUDWIG: “Criminal Minds.”
Q: What’s your favorite type of music?
LUDWIG: “I listen to country. My favorite music artist is Jon Pardi.”
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
LUDWIG: “I play a few video games. I also like to bowl and play mini golf.”
Q: Who is the most interesting player on the Pioneers’ team?
LUDWIG: “Ty Bothwell [a pitcher from Indiana University]. He’s an interesting guy. He’s always full of energy. It’s just great to be around him.”
Q: Who is the kindest person you’ve met in this area?
LUDWIG: “I have to say my host family. They’ve helped me in every way they possibly can. They’ve been there for me if I need anything. I really appreciate that.”
Q: Favorite Major League Baseball team?
LUDWIG: “Arizona Diamondbacks.”
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