Junior Joe Berte is set to continue his legacy as a crucial member of the Bowdoin Men's Baseball Team as he begins his third season as a starting infielder for the Polar Bears.
The Marlborough, Massachusetts, native graduated from Marlborough High School where he played baseball, basketball, and two seasons of football.
He was a two-time Mid-WACH All-Star, two-time Metrowest All-Star, and a Central Mass. All-Star. Berte had never heard of Bowdoin before he was called by Head Coach Michael Connolly and asked to visit the campus. Berte was looking for a way to use baseball as a means to get a good education.
"It was always academics first for me," said Berte. "Baseball would be a success if it allowed me to get a good education."
According to Berte, his visit to Bowdoin and overnight stay with the team convinced him that Bowdoin was the place for him.
"When I came, it was a nice day and I stayed with some of the upperclassmen baseball guys and the whole team was so welcoming," said Berte. "The older guys opening up and being so cool about hanging out made me feel like I was already part of the team. The team is really what convinced me to come to Bowdoin."
Berte has been a force for the Bears since his first year and was named the 2006 Bowdoin First-Year Male Athlete of the Year.
In 2006, with Berte's help, the Bears boasted the best record in the history of the Bowdoin team and were Eastern Division Champs. In 2007, the Bears came in second in the league's Eastern Division, with Berte leading the Bears in several offensive categories.
This year, Berte already holds the "Triple Crown" for the Bears, with a .426 batting average, three homeruns and 15 RBIs so far this season.
But Berte is more than a series of top-notch statistics. He is respected as a leader and role model both on and off the field by his teammates.
"He's more than just a big bat and a solid glove," said first year infielder Matt Ruane. "Berte leads by example. When you see someone so committed to improving their game, so determined to get better, it is always going to lead to good things.
People on the team respect Joe for all he does as he respects his teammates as well. There's no one who cares more about the team than Joe, and it shows," he added.
Berte is excited with the possibilities for this year's team.
"This year, we have the potential to be really good. The talent in the freshman and sophomore group is going to do a lot for us, especially with the sophomores being as good as they are and having one year's worth of experience," he said.
The Bears had a great performance during their Spring Break trip to Arizona, during which they came up with eight wins and three losses.
Unfortunately the team lost three games to rival Trinity College last weekend0, but according to Berte, the team is going to use this weekend against Colby to get back on track.
"We are going to take care of business this weekend and get back on our feet against Colby," said Berte. "I expect great things with this team?we've got a lot of chemistry and we've just got to make it happen for ourselves."
Off the field, Berte likes country music, weight lifting, and hanging out with friends.
He also enjoys writing and is brave enough to say he is a Yankees fan from Boston.
A Government and Legal Studies major at Bowdoin, Berte is tentatively planning to go into sports marketing after college and then might pursue a law degree.
Until then, Berte is loving every moment at Bowdoin, which he rates "an absolute 10."