Ep. #9---Preparation, Mindset, Confidence & Unfinished Business w/ Riley Martin
In this episode, we go one on one with Riley Martin, a four-year left-handed starting pitcher for the Quincy University Hawks – an NCAA D-2 baseball powerhouse.
During Martin's tenure in a Hawks uniform, he’s seen the best times: two GLVC Conference titles, three NCAA regional appearances, a regional championship, and a trip to the DII world series.
Recently, of Salem, Illinois was named to Quincy’s all-decade team, a high honor held among other players who have been able to continue their talents into the professional ranks. He joins the show to talk about his experience on and off the field, his favorite moments, and what the future holds.
Martin's senior season was anything but normal. He was within range of breaking Quincy’s all-time wins record. He and his teammates were anticipating a promising year with plans for a deep run in the postseason. But the season ended abruptly in early March because of the global pandemic. Martin shares how he and his teammates dealt with this reality and how he has set his sights on the 2021 campaign.
Martin’s improvements heading into the 2020 season were noticeable. The fastball velocity had increased and his devasting off-speed pitch was only getting better.
He was coming off the heels of an impressive junior campaign in which he earned All-Conference honors and registered an 8-2 record on the mound for a team who climbed as high as 4th in the nation on the DII polls.
Riley describes being sidelined for four starts his Sophomore year and how it taught him to take his recovery more seriously.
We detail Martins's transition into Quincy and how he led the Hawks in starts as a true freshman when the squad reached the World Series, and how he has been chasing the feeling of being at the pinnacle for DII baseball ever since.
Moving forward, Martin is projected to be one of the most experienced starting pitchers in the country next season. Riley talks about how his lengthy experience, including three years of post-season pitching, has given him the confidence that he plays with on the mound.
Martin shares his journey through collegiate athletics and what’s been necessary for him to excel at his craft –learning to work hard, prepare, and focus on every single repetition you get because they are limited.
If you have seen Riley pitch, you may know he is a fierce competitor. Riley tells a story and details why he is the type of pitcher that needs to play with that emotion to help him get locked in.
We discuss what Riley has been able to learn from outings that haven't gone his way, and how he can consistently achieve peak-performance on the mound.
Off the field, Martin is also an over-achiever in the classroom as a consistent member of the Dean's list along with being a Biology and Chemistry double-major.
Before the wake of the pandemic, Martin planned to enroll at SIUE's pharmacy school, but he’s delaying that admission to tend to unfinished business he has with the Hawks.
Follow Riley's journey and keep up with him moving forward by connecting with him on twitter (@Riley_Martin) and be sure to share the show if you felt moved or gained value from it!
---
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/will07/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/will07/support
