Brothers play on varsity; living the dream

Nick and Javis VonRuden have been playing baseball together for a long time. For years it’s been their dream to play on the same varsity team. This year, that dream came true. 
With Javis being a freshman and Nick a senior, this season will be the two’s only opportunity to play varsity ball together, but they are making the most of it. 
The two received a taste of playing together when they both enrolled in summer ball in 2014, and Nick says the two talk plenty of baseball outside of practice and games. The baseball comradery between the two goes back long before varsity days. 
“Most of the days in the summer when we were little, we’d throw each other some fastballs and do batting practice,” said Nick. “We had a big lawn, and we just hit balls.”
Nick said they would also play with their younger brother, who is a seventh-grader at Medford. 
“We all would just (go) outside everyday playing baseball,” said Nick. 
The three brothers’ favorite game was called “Batter, Pitcher and Outfielder.
Javis explained the rules. 
“We had a guy batting. He’d hit it out to the outfield and the pitcher would be a cutoff. You’d try to get it in as fast as you could. That’s kind of what we did every summer day. It (was) fun growing up, playing with them in the backyard.”
The comradery has brought the two close on and off the field, as Nick and Javis push eachother in practice and games, as well as in the weight room. 
However, as a senior on the team, Nick has also taken it in his hands to make sure his freshman brother keeps his head in the right place. 
“(We’re) usually pretty laid back, but Javis likes to get off task a lot,” said Nick. “Sometimes it’s nice, because the team is really tight during games, so his humor (helps). But when we’re trying to be serious, he kind of messes us up, so I try to stay on top of that.”
Javis smiled at his brother’s comments. 
“I’m just trying to keep everyone loose during the game,” said Javis. “When everybody’s loose during the game, that’s when we’re playing our best. I’m just trying to be me.”
Nick may shake his head at his brother’s antics, but the freshman is off to a quick start with the Tigers, excelling in his role as starting catcher. Javis has already earned respect from Coach Jon Chappuis for his clutch hitting. 
Javis said he didn’t necessarily come into the season with statistic goals. 
“I’m just coming to practice trying to get better every day, help the team improve and push everyone else,” said Javis. 
Nick is working on his on-base percentage, as well as eliminating errors, adding that he has the future on his mind. 
“I have a goal of possibly walking on a college team next year, which is making me push myself,” said Nick. 
Nick plans on attending Southwest Minnesota State University next season. 
At 7-1, and one game shy of breaking the school record for wins in a season, Nick and Javis are having quite the first and final season together. 
“It’s kind of always been my goal to play with him,” said Javis. “(It’s) been a great expereience…especially with how the team has been doing.”
The dream continues this week as the VonRuden brothers and the rest of the Medford Tigers will face United South Central and Bethlehem Academy before hosting Blooming Prairie on Monday, May 4 at 5 p.m.