Mitchell’s baseball family has Bedard wanting more
Editor's note: Norwich Tech's Bryce Bedard, a senior baseball player at Mitchell College, saw his season abruptly end in March when spring sports were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the eighth and final essay in a periodical series written by local college student-athletes who suffered similar fates, Bedard expresses his thoughts on the situation.
My career started at Norwich Technical High School where I learned the automotive trade while trying to make the most of baseball, hoping one day to play in college. Approaching graduation I was torn between joining the work force or trying to extend my baseball career. My dad is a master-tech for BMW and already had a job lined up for me at his shop. When I graduated, the only offer I had to continue playing baseball in college came from UConn Avery Point. After having a conversation with my parents, they encouraged me to play the game that I love for as long as possible.
I played one fall at Avery Point and found it wasn't a great fit for me, both athletically and academically. I transferred to Mitchell
College because coach (Travis) Beausoleil had seen me in our fall game and thought I would fit in well with his program.
Prior to enrolling at Mitchell and throughout much of that winter break, I again battled with the decision to work full time or continue playing baseball and pursuing my education. Someone close to me reassured me that I had the rest of my life to work and that I should give my all to the game for as long as I could. I transferred to Mitchell that spring semester, even though I knew I would have to sit out the season due to a transfer rule.
Although I didn't play a single game that spring, I knew that Mitchell was where I was supposed to be. I saw how much each individual on the team poured their heart and soul into the program, how much each guy on the team cared for each other but also how much they cared about winning and pursuing a championship.
I found that Mitchell was a great fit because of baseball, but I also began to have success academically. Coach Beausoleil runs study hall in the fall and really helped me adjust to college work and I now have over
a 3.0 GPA. The professors at Mitchell are accommodating and have really helped my along the way if I was struggling in any subject.
I look back at the decision I made to stick with baseball and have no regrets. Over the past four years I've built a brotherhood with my teammates and made memories by winning championships and pitching in big games. I think of all the fun and goofy times in the locker room, having opportunities to be named to the NECC All-Conference and the NCAA All-New England teams, and playing for one of the best programs in the country. I absolutely know that I made the right decision to attend Mitchell and play for coach Beausoleil.
After COVID-19 hit and ended our season, I was faced with another decision. The NCAA offered all seniors another year of eligibility. Would I graduate, or hold off to play one last spring of the game I have always loved? The answer for me this time was simple. I withdrew from one of my classes and am prepared to come back to Mitchell next spring and compete for NECC and NCAA titles.
This game and the baseball program at Mitchell have been so very important to me, giving me the confidence to know that I can be successful. I take pride in being able to wear the Mitchell name on my chest because I know it's not about me. It's all about doing everything I can to help the guys on my left and right in any way I can. And I can't wait to wear the jersey next spring and hope to dogpile with my brothers.