“Hopefully my work ethic will allow me to catch up with him,” he says.

The shy, modest Houstonian with the hinted Texas drawl and the no-bones, straight-arrow demeanor leans forward in his seat. Can he succeed in professional baseball?

He hasn’t the slightest hesitation.

“That’s my plan,” he answers without a shred of doubt in his voice, as if to ho-hum the natural follow-up, “so what’s yours?”

THE PROTÉGÉ

The simple task of throwing a baseball can be trying in Eastern Michigan’s early spring.

Extremities numbed, uncorking the weakest throw shivers ligaments from the forearm to the elbow, creaks the joints, and beckons the piercing winds—in all, a solemn sacrifice of “enjoyment” for the sobering sake of arm upkeep.

In other words, it’s not the kind of thing Flint youths do for fun. For that, Flint-ers become gym rats and head indoors, dreaming of royal green jerseys and imagining themselves with a place in Michigan State’s basketball (and hockey) lore. Other Michiganians—like Brighton (Mich.) High baseball legend and current Dallas Cowboy Drew Henson—eventually give up the gloves and take on other endeavors.

Like a weed in winter, Lance Salsgiver has thrived despite his environment.

Harvard’s starting rightfielder, leadoff batter and newly-named closer—and a former “No. 1 high school baseball player in Michigan,” according to the Detroit Free Press in 2002—Salsgiver is tough as nails. But don’t think, for a second, that he doesn’t enjoy every minute he spends on a baseball field.

“I’m always having a good time,” he says, grinning.

And you believe him. As a freshman in 2003, the fun-loving graduate of Flint’s Davison High School led all Crimson players in stolen bases with 17, finished third on the team in batting (.331) and, as the leadoff hitter, chipped in four home runs and 25 runs batted in with surprising power. But his “high energy” attitude, according to Farkes, is as valuable an asset to the team as any.

“When he’s out on that field,” Farkes says, “he’s running around diving all over the place, running into walls, stuff like that.”

“That’s his attitude, and that’s a great one for the team.”

Herrmann’s characterization of his teammate is a bit blunter. “Lance is a bit of a free spirit, or a nut, to be honest,” he says.