#22

Matt Tews

Nickname: Tews(er)/(y)

Bat/Throw: R/R

Birthday: 7/8

Years Playing With The Tigers: 2005-present

Position(s): P/2B/3B/LF

High School/Graduation Year: Springfield High School - Class of 2004

College: B.A., University of Saint Thomas; University of Minnesota Law School

Family: parents: Charles & Janelle, brother: Michael

Job: Summer Associate, Leonard, Street & Deinard, P.A.

Best Part Of Playing Amateur Baseball: The drive back, past New Ulm, Sigel, Stark, and Leavenworth on a Friday afternoon; Marty's mix tapes during warm ups; taking ground balls before the game; getting the 'nod'; keeping it low and on the outside corner or dropping the deuce; the last out of a win; the campfires at Fink's after the game; doing it all over again on Sunday; and the late night drive home, still in uniform, at the end of the weekend.

Greatest Baseball Game of All-Time: The greatest game I have ever been to is without a doubt 163. The greatest game(s) ever are Games 6 & 7 of the '91 World Series.

Favorite Bob Fink Moment: His team rallying speech in the middle of the 2002 Section Tournament game against Sleepy Eye.

Thoughts on Ryan Sturm Getting A Real Job: Being involved in the management of a baseball team isn't a real job; its a dream job.

Favorite Ballpark To Play At: Riverside Park gets the slight edge over Stark.

Should A Pitcher Ever Be Allowed To Catch A Pop-Up? Generally speaking, yes, pitchers are the best athletes on the team. Now, let's say Miesen is pitching at the St. Stephen tournament. Either his mind is on sweet, suckling, roasted pig, or he's really concerned that there won't be said roasted pig, or he is full of roasted pig. In this scenario - no - a pitcher should not be allowed to catch a pop-up.

Describe Your Ultimate Hot Dog: Old Fashioned Ambassador in a sesame seed wheat bun; ketchup and mustard.

Parting Thoughts: Why wasn't there a question about the nuclear blast that Chris Sturm gave up two summers ago? I, for one, am still going to therapy for it. Its one of those life altering moments - like people say they always remember where they were when they heard about Pearl Harbor, or JFK, or 9/11 - well, for all of us that were there that fateful day, we will always remember just where we were, what we were feeling, what was going through our heads as the ball exploded onto its infinite trajectory. None of us will ever be the same after witnessing the terror of a ball literally escaping Earth's atmosphere.