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Over the coming weeks, we will catch up and get to know a number of Cougar baseball players. This week we sat down with Junior infielder
Cole Cramer. A transfer from Linn-Benton Community College, Cramer is one of two Cougs to play and start in all 34 games this season while leading the team in batting average (.352).
How has the transition been transferring from Linn-Benton CC to WSU over the past year been for you?
It's been great. It's a change going from junior college to this level, but overall, I really enjoy it here. I love Pullman. I love the community and the people here. I love the support that they give us, and I think that has been a big motivational factor for myself and the whole team.
Being from the west side of the state in Arlington, WA, were you always a Coug fan and what was the reasoning for you to choose to come to WSU?
I have always been a Coug. My mom went to University of Washington, so growing up it was my daycare lady from a super young age who were huge Coug fans. Growing up and going there when I was younger, they imprinted of what it means to be a Coug. That is where I can say I got it. My whole life I have kind of been a Coug and being able to come here was just a dream come true.
You have been able to reach base in 29 out of 34 games, and have recorded at least one hit in 27 out of 34 games this season. You also sit sixth overall in batting average (.356) in the Pac-12. Can you share a little about your preparation and your mentality during practice/BP/on-deck circle, and when it comes to stepping into the box?
I think success is not an individual thing. I think success comes from being around a team. I think baseball is not an individual sport. It is a very team-oriented sport. Coming out every day and working with the guys has helped me with my success. Sometimes my swing may not feel good, but being able to talk to other guys helps because I may not be able to see what other guys see from an outside standpoint. I think sticking with a routine has helped, especially since I like to stick to my routine as soon as I step outside. On game days I try to do the exact same thing. I think keeping things simple and repetitive and doing the same thing to have it feel the same way every single time is the answer to being consistent.
With a new coaching staff, 17 new players, and only 22 returning players from last season, how has this journey been as a team from the fall to this point in the season? How has the team chemistry been?
I think coming in with new faces before I came here I only knew one player on the team. That was my former and current teammate I played with at Linn-Benton Community College Jacob Morrow. It was just learning new faces and learning new people. I think that is the biggest part about being a team is being able to learn about them, and I feel like there is a certain aspect of team chemistry that can really show up on and off the field. I think it was good for us early in the fall to hang out with each other and do team events together and just hang out outside of baseball. I think that is a huge part of the game and being able to be comfortable around each other and your teammates. You are able to treat everyone like you now have 39 new siblings which is an awesome feeling.
Former Coug and now MLB pitcher Ryan Walker (2015-2018) is also from Arlington, WA. Have you been able to meet or talk to him since you two are from the same hometown and high school?
I think I have talked to him once as he is a bit older than I am. I do not know when exactly he was at Arlington, but I defiantly know of him and am not sure if he knows who I am. His high school coach was my high school coach, so we have that same familiarity. We just had a celebration for him back at Arlington High School, and I think his dad threw out the first pitch which was cool. He is having a fantastic career so far, and it is cool he can represent Arlington especially in the big leagues which is really cool, and I hope he continues to have a great career.
Who was your favorite baseball player to watch growing up?
I am a big Mike Trout fan, and I was a big Ichiro fan just from being in the Seattle area as I grew up a Mariners fan. I was a fan of the "original" mariners. I say "original" when it is really from the last ten years. I was a huge Griffey guy, which was one of my dad's favorite players. I try and implement his swing, but I am a righty so I can't of course. Nowadays I would say probably Julio Rodriguez just because of how much joy and fun he has on the field. We talk about it here but being able to not tell a difference between you going 4-4 or 0-4 on a day. Just trying to have that steady attitude, and not make it such a roller coaster. Â You want to keep it in the gray area in the middle and just be a steady player all the time and I think Julio shows that and he has a lot of fun doing it.
We are a little over halfway through Pac-12 play this season. What are some personal goals, and team goals for the rest of the season?
I feel like I try to make my personal goals about the team. Hits are going to come and everything else, but I think when you can focus on being a team is when you will have your own personal achievements accomplished. I think with our team goals we need to continue to play our style of baseball. We talk about all the time that we want to be tough, and we want to be the best team on the west coast. I think if we continue to practice and play how we are supposed to then those things will show up. Of course, the overall goal is to go to Omaha. Before that we have to make the Pac-12 tournament and after that we need to make it to a regional, super-regional, and then Omaha. There are definitely steps we need to take, but our end goal is to get back to Omaha.
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