Bashing with The Boys
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A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Dru Sebastian joined the Mountaineers in 2022.
Sebastian spent the previous three seasons at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM. NMMI had the winningest three seasons in program history during this time along with the second-most wins in program history in 2022. The pitching staff finished top 3 in program history in almost every statistical category while breaking the school record in K/inning. Jorge Garcia finished as a first-team all-conference pitcher while finishing 2nd overall in ERA for NJCAA Region V. Garcia finished his career as the all-time winningest pitcher in program history. Albert Oliva was selected by the Detroit Tigers out of NMMI as the second player in program history to be drafted directly out of NMMI.
Prior to NMMI, Sebastian spent one season at Dawson Community College and mentored all-region pitcher Austin Robertson and helped lead the program to a regional appearance for the first time in several years. During the summer of 2019, Sebastian coached for the Vauxhall Spurs of the Montana/Alberta American Legion baseball league. The Spurs won the state championship for the first time in more than a decade and Sebastian was tabbed as the Montana/Alberta American Legion Class A State Coach of the Year in his one year with the program. Sebastian’s first year as a collegiate coach was spent at Ivy Tech Community College. He helped build the start-up program with a 25-win season – its first season that included a road win over the No. 2 ranked team in the country.
Sebastian earned his associate’s degree as a player at Owens Community College in Perrysburg, Ohio, before going on to Purdue University-Fort Wayne to earn a bachelor’s degree as a member of the winningest team in program history.
Hayden Tapper joined the Mountaineers as the Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator in 2023. He comes from Jackson State Community College where he retained the same title while also adding Director of Baseball Operations, Player Development, and Strength and Conditioning for all sports. Prior to his time at Jackson State, Tapper was the Assistant Hitting Coach, Outfield Coach, and Head JV coach at Brewton Parker College in Mount Vernon, GA. He spent a short stint as the Hitting Coach at his alma mater, Desoto Central High School, winning the high school’s first National Championship.
Tapper had a successful high school career and was ranked as the top first baseman in the state. He led his team to a state championship in his senior year. After high school, Tapper went on to play at Coahoma Community College where he was named team captain twice. Academically, he was the Honor’s College vice president as a freshman and was promoted to president his sophomore year. Tapper spent the summer in Amarillo, TX, where he was named first-team Panhandle All-Conference. He then went on to play at Blue Mountain Christian University where he started for the next two years. His teammates and coaches appointed him as the SSAC Male Representative for the Athletic Student Leadership Council. Academically, Tapper was elected Physical Education vice president and once again promoted to president the following year. Tapper graduated from CCC with an associate’s degree in athletic training/sports medicine and earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from BMCU. He then went on to attend Arkansas State University where he received his master’s degree in sports administration.
Demeris Barlow joined the Mountaineers as the Defensive Coach/Assistant Hitting Coach/Recruiting Coordinator in 2023. He comes from Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, MI. As the team’s hitting coach, he led the Cardinals to breaking the single-season team triples record. Barlow also serves as the hitting coach for the Lafayette Aviators, during the summer.
Barlow was born in Pontiac, MI, but was raised in Saginaw, MI. He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 2015 as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. In football, he was a 2nd team All-Conference defensive tackle. In baseball, he was a 2-time 2nd team All-Conference third baseman, who set the record for walks in a season his senior year.
After high school, he attended Indiana Tech University and played two years before transferring to Indiana University South Bend where he finished his playing career. During his junior year, he led his team in fielding percentage. He was also named team captain for his senior season.
Barlow graduated from IU South Bend in 2020 with two bachelor’s degrees in business administration; one with a concentration in marketing and the other in advertising.
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