Jakub Janda interviewed Vince DeCoito of the German club Dohren Wild Farmers for Mister-Baseball.
Vince DeCoito
- 27 years old
- German Baseball-Bundesliga Dohren Wild Farmers
- American ex-college player
Jakub Janda: Please describe your career since you started playing baseball to the present.
Vince DeCoito: I started playing baseball officially when I was 5 years old. However I was carrying around a wiffelball bat or throwing a ball since before that. I was more just interested in sports when I was younger. I really didn’t decide that baseball was what I wanted to play until I was in high school. In high school I played 3 sports, baseball, basketball and American football. After high school I attended Oregon State University where I was a member of the team for 1 year as a redshirt freshman and then I transferred to the University of California in Davis where I competed for 4 years. After I finished college I moved back to my home town of Fall River Mills, California and started working as the manager of the local mosquito abatement district. I also started coaching baseball. I really never stepped away from the field. In the fall I would go play some semi pro baseball and play in a men’s hard ball league in a nearby town. I had always been interested in playing baseball in Europe but I was injured in college with arm problems and I did not think I would have the chance to play. I spoke with a friend one day about his experience playing baseball overseas and I decided to give it a try and here I am in Germany playing for the Dohren Wild Farmers. My career has been a fun roller coaster ride.
JJ: How were you preparing for this season during winter? Did you change anything from previous offseasons?
VD: As for training in the winter, I had to remember what it was like to get into baseball shape again. I had not played competitively since 2006 when I finished college. I really just focused on running and playing catch. I would lift weights 2 times a week mostly just focusing on my lower body. But the most important thing for me was throwing and running. Everyone is different though. I lifted a lot less in preparation for European baseball than I did in college. I think it’s important for players to lift weights as long as they are doing the right things for their particular sport and each sport is different.
JJ: What do you consider your career highlight?
VD: It’s hard to say what my career highlight has been. I think it’s different for every level that I played. In high school it is probably striking out 20 out of 21 batters in a 7 inning game. In college it might be beating Stanford in my last college game and in Germany it might be beating Solingen. It’s hard to say what the career highlight is but I think the most important part is that I was able to play the game of baseball and have lots of fun doing it.
JJ: What has baseball taken from you and chat has the game given to you?
VD: Well in my mind the game has given me so much more than I have taken from it. I look back at the experiences that I have been able to have as well as the places I have been, and the people I have met, all I have done is taken from the game. I feel very fortunate to have been able play in Germany and have the opportunity to meet so many great people. Everyone is so nice! If was not for baseball I would have never had the opportunity to live in a different country and experience how everyday life is in that place. It’s an experience I will never forget!
JJ: How do you like your own performance this season?
VD: I am very happy with my performance this season so far, I still have a few more games to go though. My biggest key was whether or not I would be able to stay healthy. And luckily I have been able to stay healthy. It has been a lot of fun and when you’re having fun you play well.
JJ: What do you think about your club in this season? Have you fulfilled expectations?
VD: I think that our club the Dohren Wild Farmers have exceeded expectations in the 2010 season. I think we are playing very well in our first season in the 1st league. I really don’t think anyone expected much from us. The core of the team is young and there are a lot of good young players coming up that will contribute in the next several years. Our goal all year long was to stay in the first league and we are close to being able to accomplish that goal.
JJ: How many times in your career have you thought about quitting baseball?
VD: Honestly I have never thought about quitting baseball. I thought I would be done playing competitive baseball after college because of injuries but quitting has never crossed my mind. I enjoy playing it too much and it’s a lot of fun.
JJ: Do you have any special practice or game routine?
VD: As far as a practice or game routine, I really have not had one since I have played in Germany. I had routines in high school and college such as, eating the same food for breakfast on game day. But in Germany I have been able to just relax and do whatever felt right. I do believe that routine is a good thing to have and it’s a good part of preparation for games.
JJ: Where do you see your own key for succeeding on the European level?
VD: I think my key to succeeding in European baseball is my experience. I have played in college and then I went home and worked for 3 years after college before I came to Europe. And in that time I was an assistant coach at a high school and I also coached American legion baseball. When you learn to teach the game it makes it easier to play the game I think. In a way you learn to practice what you preach. You always find yourself looking back saying if I knew now what I knew then, I would have done things this way. It’s fun getting to play baseball that way.
JJ: Any funny story connected with baseball?
VD: There are plenty of great stories that are connected with baseball. There are very few days that have gone by where you don’t have a good laugh out on the field. But the best part is coming to Germany to play baseball and meeting other American players who have random friends that are the same as yours, or playing against guys you played against in college.
JJ: If you could advise young players reading this interview, what would you address them?
VD: To all of the young baseball players and just kids in general, it’s important to remember that you get what you put into baseball or life. Baseball is a great sport in that it doesn’t matter if you are big or small, fast or slow there is a position for you to play. You really can make yourself what you want to be. Everyone has their limits but there is nobody that can tell you that you can’t enjoy playing the game. As long as you work hard and have fun there is no better sport to play.
JJ: Your future plans on the field?
VD: As for my future plans on the field I plan on finishing my career with my German baseball experience. It has been a lot of fun playing and traveling throughout Germany. It has been an excellent and fun way to end my career.
Thank you for your time.
Jakub Janda
Jandis(at)volny.cz
Photo: Gregor Eisenhuth, www.eisenhuth-photographie.de
