In between games of its Sunday doubleheader against Simpson College, the Central College baseball team recognized the 13 seniors on the roster and gave student coach Jake Wegner the first at-bat of his career to lead off the second game.

Simpson swept Central 6-0, 10-2.

Wegner first came to Central in the fall of 2015 after a bout with cancer in February of his senior year in high school. His doctors cleared him to play for the Dutch his freshman season before a relapse over the winter sent him back into treatment.

He returned in the fall of 2017 after defeating cancer for a second time and has been with the program as a student coach. He asked Coach Matt Schirm for one at-bat on Senior Day and his wish was granted. Wegner hit a ground ball and forced the shortstop to make a good throw to put him out.

“He wanted to end his career on his terms,” “He wasn’t going to let cancer end his career. I knew he’d go up there swinging. It was a neat moment. I was tearing up in the dugout just waking it all transpire.”

“It was like riding a bike,” Wegner said. “I felt like I never left, just felt like I took a bit of a break. I was happy I got the chance to do it again.”