Harrison Bader stood before reporters following Florida’s 4-1 loss to Florida State on March 12.
Bader scored the Gators’ only run and recorded two of their five hits against the Seminoles in the defeat, which dropped UF’s record to 8-10.
Alligator staff writer Adam Pincus asked Bader: “Can you describe this season so far for the team?”
Bader took a deep breath and let out his inner Tim Tebow.
“It’s been tough. We’re doing everything we can to go game by game, pitch by pitch,” Bader said. “Obviously the result and the outcome isn’t what we want by any means, but we’re fighting out there. We’re never going to quit. That’s the most important thing.”
Pincus followed up with Bader, saying: “You guys are putting in the work in day in and day out and the results aren’t showing on the field. That’s got to become frustrating for you guys.”
Bader continued to let his inner Tebow speak.
“We’re never going to quit. It’s not going to happen,” Bader said. “As long as I’m on the field, as long as anyone’s on the field, we’re going to put everything into it.”
Obviously, this doesn’t quite compare to “The Promise.” Bader didn’t even include the “God bless,” kicker.
Even if the Gators defy logic and win the national championship in June, I doubt the folks at the UAA are going to commemorate Bader’s heartfelt words on a plaque at McKethan Stadium.
Sorry, Harrison, but you just don’t have what it takes to be a Skip Bayless heart throb.
But since Bader promised to keep giving the game his all following the loss to FSU, UF is 11-8. Bader is 22 for 75 with five walks during the 19-game stretch, raising his batting average 10 points and his slugging percentage 35 points.
More recently, Florida has caught fire, winning five straight games and eight of its last 10. Bader has served as the spark to the Gators’ latest tear.
He was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the first time this season after hitting .462 with four RBI, two stolen bases and five runs scored in a 4-0 week against Top-11 opponents Florida State and South Carolina.
In a 4-3 win against the Seminoles on April 9, Bader scored three runs, including the game-winner in the top of the ninth. In Friday’s 4-3 victory against the Gamecocks, Bader hit a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth, securing the tying and winning runs.
Despite his youth, Bader has been a steady contributor for a Gators team suffering growing pains in 2013. He has started 35 of Florida’s 37 games this season, playing both left and center field. He ranks third among Gators with a .285 average, third with 24 runs scored and first with eight stolen bases.
Most importantly, he has served as a key catalyst in Florida’s midseason turnaround.
After a horrendous start to the 2013 campaign, the Gators have somehow climbed back into the winning ranks, improving to 19-18 following Saturday’s 14-5 dismantling of the Gamecocks.
A movie fanatic like me enjoys pinpointing signature moments where the hero rallies the troops, defeats the villain and gets the girl. Bader’s postgame comments on March 12 seemingly fit the bill as the Gators' Hollywood moment, but reducing their turnaround to a singular event does a disservice to the freshman outfielder and his team.
Bader isn’t a folk hero or a legend. He’s just a guy who gets the job done. Day by day, pitch by pitch.
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Freshman outfielder Harrison Bader slides into home during Florida's 14-5 win against South Carolina on Saturday. Bader scored a run in the Gators' 7-1 win against the Owls on Tuesday.
