Honoring the Class of 2020: Zachary Belansek

Baseball coaches have to fit a lot of pieces together to make a winning line-up. When those pieces can go in many spots on the field or in the batting order, a coaches job can be much easier. 

After playing almost exclusively at shortstop through his first two seasons, Zach Belansek played more innings at third base or as a designated hitter in 2019.

He continued to develop his ability to play multiple positions to the point where he played five positions in Eastern's first ten games. In the same way he was figuring out ways to get on the field, Belansek was figuring out ways to get on base. He reached base safely 12 times in 22 plate appearances with five walks, four hits, and three plate appearances with a hit by pitch. 

Players who reach base 54 percent of the time help teams to score runs. Heading into what turned into their final game, the Eagles led the nation in runs scored per game.

For his career, Belansek appeared in 88 games and had 57 hits and scored 56 runs. He reached base at a .382 clip. 

"Zach saw his role change over the past two years, and he accepted the challenge" Head Coach Scott Renauro said. "After seeing his success in the offseason, he was someone I knew I had to get into then lineup. He was always willing to try something new like the outfield and first base which he had never played before. He stepped right in and took the extra time to learn everything he could at a new position."

Belansek is a Business administration major. 

Zach Responds: 

My favorite memory from being part of the Eastern University baseball program would be all the “tarp duties” we have done.  Even though the weather conditions while doing tarp duty was usually awful, but we all found a way to bring joy in doing it.  From people not wearing shoes, to people getting stuck under the tarp, we all found a way to make it fun.

I am going to miss the team the most.  Never would I have thought that coming into college I would be able to create bonds that were stronger than the ones in high school.  I was wrong, I met friends that I will have for life, and there is nothing I will miss most than playing baseball with a family.

There is not one teammate that taught me the most.  Every teammate would teach my something.  If it was from baseball, or even if it was from how to be a better person.  Every single person taught me something about life or the game of baseball.

College athletics has prepared me greatly for life ahead of me.  Having to multi-task with games or practice and schoolwork.  Having to make quick decisions in games.  All of these provide me with an advantage for the life ahead of me.

I would like to thank my parents for introducing me to the game of baseball.  Not just because of the sport, but because of all that I would learn from it.  I learned to be patient, to be mentally prepared for each pitch, to be alert at all time.  But I also made many friendships that I would not have had if I did not play this sport.  I would also like to thank them for being by my side at all times.  If I was struggling with my swing, if I was in a slump, they would always be there for me.

With the National Emergency caused by the impending spread of the novel coronavirus, the NCAA canceled Winter and Spring Championships and Governor Wolf moved instruction online and ordered colleges to send students home. 

As a result of this crisis, student-athletes competing in spring sports had their seasons cut short and teams were unable to honor their senior student-athletes in a traditional way. Without diminishing the seriousness of the crisis, we would like to honor our senior student-athletes over the next 50 days or so. The NCAA has granted all spring athletes an extra season of eligibility, so some members of the class of 2020 may compete in 2021. Regardless, we will want to honor the seniors with their class. 

We encourage everyone to stay safe, encourage each other, and to listen to the guidelines put forth by the CDC.