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FREESE RETURNS

MLB MVP re-enrolls at Meramec, joins baseball team

PHOTO BY: DAVE HERHOLZ Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player David Freese shows up his 5 o’clock shadow. Freese decided to come back to Meramec after he discovered the “magic” of sculpting baseballs out of different colorful fabrics.

KIMMY KAMILIA STAFF WRITER Citizens of St. Louis are familiar with the name David Freese, as third baseman for the World Series Champions, the St. Louis Cardinals. STLCC-Meramec students know him as a former alumni who attended the college for two years before transferring to Southern Alabama. Freese made the surprising announcement that he is returning to Meramec during some time off from the Cardinals. “I’ve missed Meramec, it’s where I got my start and it’s always felt like home,” Freese said. “I’m excited to come back to my roots.” Freese’s return may come as a surprise, but Freese said that he has been planning this for a while now, ever since he joined the Cardinals. “After I left [Meramec] it was never

the same,” Freese said. “And once I joined the Cardinals, I felt lost and needed to come back to the place where it all started.” Freese said that he is going to take what he has learned from his time with the Cardinals to rejoin the Archers and become a mentor for the next generation of baseball players. “I was ecstatic when [Freese] called me to tell me he was planning on coming back,” Tony Dattoli, Archer baseball head coach, said. “All of our players are really excited too. We’ve had to keep this a secret for a while and I’m happy we’re finally announcing it.” With Freese coming back and starting at third, Caliente Esquina starting Archer third baseman, said that having to give up his starting position to Freese was

tough, but he understood that having an all-star player on the team would bring home a victory. “It’s bittersweet having [Freese] back here at Meramec,” Esquina said. “I mean, he took my starting position and the coach’s attention away from me, but I understand it is for the good of the team.” Freese is planning on making his way back to Meramec before the spring semester ends. He has gotten permission from President George Wasson to take late start classes to get some of his core classes out of the way. “I’ve missed being a student and I’ve missed a lot of my teachers,” Freese said. “And being able to come back with what I know now will make this time so much better.”

In his spare time, Freese makes intricate sculptures out of baseballs, carving through the fabric to create scenes of Busch Stadium and the games that have been played there. “It’s a hobby I picked up after we won the World Series last year. I had a lot of time off and one day I was just inspired to make something unique,” Freese said. “I realized how much fun sculpting is and I wanted to learn more about the craft.” With his skill in sculpture and an eye for art, Freese said that he plans to take this time at Meramec to take some art classes. “I’ve always had a passion for the arts, just never time to take it to the next level,” Freese said. “Now that I have some time off from baseball, I can really enjoy myself.”

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Volume 8008 Issue 1337

www.meramecmontage.com

April 1, 2012

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