Name: Kevin Casey
Graduated: 2013
Position: INF/RHP
Hometown: Cherry Hill, N.J.
Current Residence: Washington, D.C.
Current Occupation: Management Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton

We recently had a chance to catch up with former Lafayette baseball player Kevin Casey '13 as he threw out the opening pitch at the Leopards' game at William & Mary on Feb. 26. Casey was a member of the Lafayette baseball team for three seasons and had to miss one due to an injury, giving him a year of eligibility, which he used to play for the Tribe in Williamsburg, Va.

What attracted you to attend Lafayette College?

I was attracted to Lafayette for reasons both athletically and academically. During the recruiting process I knew I wanted to pitch and play the infield. While most coaches want players to specialize, Coach Kinney made it clear that I would have the opportunity to compete at both positions. I also knew Lafayette would challenge me academically. While I hoped my baseball career would last forever, I knew that Lafayette would prepare me for my life after baseball.

What do you miss most about Lafayette?

That's simpleÃÆ'¢Ã¢â€š¬¦ hanging out with the guys, going to school and playing baseball. There was nothing like the first nice spring day where we would get out to the field early and take shirtless batting practice, or the anticipation of the Lafayette Lehigh football game in the fall. Then there are the times you take for granted like watching TV with your friends after eating lunch together at Campus Pizza. It seems simple, but these are all times that you don't appreciate until you spend a few days in a cubicle.

Between your former teammates and coaches, who has made the most impact on your career?

It would be unfair to single out one person for this question. I was lucky enough to be a part of teams with great groups of guys and have a great coaching staff. Guys like AJ Miller who I would workout with in the winter or Coach Ian Law who never said no when I asked for extra batting practice or ground balls. My roommate Mike Massa who set the tone in the weight room or Jeff Snell who always kept the locker room light. I believe I can look back and say I've learned something from each one of my teammates and coaches throughout my time at Lafayette.

What collegiate baseball experiences have been invaluable to your successful career?

My five years of college baseball taught me invaluable lessons which I utilize every day in my career. I learned how to be a morning person thanks to Coach Kinney's love for 6:00am lifting. I learned how to properly dress myself for a cold commute thanks to all those cold and windy days at Metzger. I learned how to effectively budget my time and push myself to work well under pressure. Most importantly I learned how to be a member of a team. Most consulting work is done in teams and understanding how to operate in a team environment and communicate effectively has certainly served me well.

Looking back, what do those seasons mean to you now?

My time at Lafayette means the world to me. I was able to make life-long friendships and connections that I am grateful for every day. When Lafayette baseball alumni get together we spend most of the time reminiscing on our playing days. There are always plenty of jokes about long homeruns given up, dropped pop ups or embarrassing strike outs, but we can always look back and laugh.

What was your most memorable moment playing Lafayette baseball?

My most memorable moment playing Lafayette baseball would be the class of 2013's Senior Day. We had a tough year, but in our final game against Manhattan College everything seemed to click. Every senior had a great game and we finally broke the double digit win mark. Even though the season didn't turn out the way we had hoped, we went out with a win and were able to finish our careers together on a high note.

Is there one teammate you would love to hear from?

Thanks to group text messaging I have been fortunate enough to hear from a lot of my teammates almost every day. We are spread across the country from Los Angeles to New York to DC, but we try and stay in contact as much as possible. If I had to choose one person to hear from right now it would be Kevin McCarville. Kevin recently joined the Army Reserves and is going through basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. Unfortunately his Army training has taken its toll on his group text participation.

What advice do you have for Lafayette athletes?

My best advice for Lafayette athletes is to enjoy every day you have at Lafayette. I know sometimes classes may seem dull and workouts may be difficult, but this is a great time in your life. It may seem clichÃÆ'Æ’© now, but one day you'll be washed up at your desk wishing you were in the outfield grass stretching and talking about the party the night before, or taking batting practice listening to Coach Durrah's playlist for the 500th time.