MAC SLAVIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In the top of the ninth inning, in a game against Central, Wartburg’s Nate Underberg entered the game pitching for the Knights. He faced five batters, striking out the final batter of the inning looking.
The debut for the Knights’ junior came on May 1 and was a special one, his most memorable moment with the Knights, he said.
Underberg was born with Cerebral Palsy, but hasn’t let that stop him from playing baseball since he was five.
“People told me I would never play in college, well here I am it is just fun to prove people wrong,” he said.
The Livermore, Iowa native said he didn’t let that get him down.
When he’s on the mound, he holds his glove against his body with his left hand and pitches with his right.
When he’s done pitching he quickly slides his right hand in his glove and gets ready to field.
“I learned how to do it when I was young, but as I got older I got better and faster at it. When I got to college they helped me better hide the ball by putting the glove a different way,” he said.
Underberg said watching Jim Abbott helped him out.
“Jim Abbott influenced me because he was the first one to pitch with one hand,” he said.
Along with Abbott, Underberg said his parents helped influence him throughout his high school career too.
“What helped me along the way, was my parents, friends and coaches knew I could do it and supported me along the way,” he said.
Underberg said he had to work throughout high school, but his junior year of high school he began to shine. A 9-0 season as a pitcher, all-conference and first team all-district helped guide him to a memorable moment his senior year.
“We beat the number two team in the state [my senior year], and I pitched that game,” he said. “My advice to people is…if you believe in your heart you can, then you will succeed.”
Underberg said his Cerebral Palsy doesn’t stop him from pitching and that he wouldn’t change a thing.
“I wouldn’t change a thing, I am very lucky that I get to play the sport I love every day,” he said.