As West Chester chases a Division II baseball title, it leans on ‘heart and soul,’ Timmy Hoge
Hoge, who has Down syndrome, has served as the Rams’ batboy for more than a decade. His role is actually much more involved then his official title reveals.
CARY, N.C. — The first phone call Mike LaRosa made after being hired as the West Chester’s baseball coach in February 2021 wasn’t to the university’s chancellor, an influential donor, or even a prospective recruit.
It was to the team’s batboy.
For the record, batboy is only Timmy Hoge’s official title with the Rams. His actual role is much more involved. He’s also the Rams’ head cheerleader and motivator, as well as a primary source of inspiration for one of the nation’s best Division II baseball programs.
“Batboy is not the appropriate description for what he does,” LaRosa said. “He’s the heart and soul of this program. When he shows up, it just eases everyone.”
Hoge, who has Down syndrome, has been “showing up” for West Chester for more than a decade. During that time, the Rams have won two national titles and are one win from advancing to the best-of-three final series in this year’s Division II championship series in Cary, N.C.
» READ MORE: West Chester uses five-run first inning to defeat UT Tyler in Division II baseball tournament
They’ll have two chances to earn that victory, against Texas-Tyler starting on Wednesday afternoon at the USA Baseball National Training Complex (1:30 p.m., ncaa.com).
Hoge will have a noticeable presence throughout the game. In addition to retrieving bats and handing out high fives to players returning to the dugout, his voice can be heard — most times above the roar of the crowd — shouting words of encouragement.
“His vibe on the bench is just unbelievable,” said senior pitcher Ryan DeHaven, one of Hoge’s longest and closest friends on the team. “Even if you have a bad at bat or bad outing, Timmy is on the bench yelling, always saying ‘Let’s go!’ or ‘C’mon!’ and it gets everybody hyped up. He has a special bond with everyone on the team. Everybody who has been in this program since he’s been here loves him.”
The feeling is mutual. Asked about his favorite part of his job as the Rams’ batboy, Hoge replied: “Hanging out with the guys.”
For all the wins for which he’s been a part of with the Rams, the most poignant example of Hoge’s love for the team came after a heartbreaking loss.
Having never experienced a loss in his two previous trips to the D-II championship in 2012 and 2017, Hoge was emotionally crushed when the Rams were eliminated by North Greenville in the semifinals of the 2022 tournament. It was a sight that caused outfielder Luke Cantwell to put aside his own disappointment to console his tearful friend. Soon, the entire team offered hugs and returned a little of the encouragement Hoge usually hands out.
“They’ve really embraced him and made him feel part of the team and we’re very thankful for that for Tim and for our family,” said Hoge’s father, Fred, on Tuesday. “We also feel like it’s been a two-way street in the sense that Timmy benefits a lot and our family benefits. But some of the players, and maybe the coaches over the years too, haven’t had much interaction with people who have disabilities. This opens up a pathway to meet with someone like that and maybe break down a barrier or get a better understanding of what they’re about.”
To that point, LaRosa annually brings his players to spend a day at Handi-Crafters, a nonprofit center that provides vocational training for people with disabilities in the Hoge’s hometown of Thorndale, to get a glimpse inside Timmy’s world.
Hoge works several days a week at Handi-Crafters. But if you ask him — or anyone associated with the Rams’ program — he’ll tell you his real job is the work he does for the baseball team.
It’s a labor of love he takes seriously. He didn’t even let a bout with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma keep him from his duties. Despite being hospitalized for several weeks and weakened from his treatment, he never missed a game during his successful battle against cancer.
» READ MORE: Kyle Lazer aims to finish what he started with West Chester baseball in Division II championship
“That struggle was real. But then, Timmy shows up,” LaRosa said. “It’s like, ‘OK, can you guys give your best today? We’ve got Tim here showing up every day with a smile on his face. With cancer.’
“That really puts things into perspective. We’ve got 18- to 22-year-olds on our roster and it’s easy to put blinders up at that age and focus on yourself and your performance. But then you see Tim, and how can you be upset if you had a bad game when you’ve got him there giving everything he’s got for the program?”
The relationship between Hoge and the Rams began in 2011 as a way of keeping Timmy involved in an organized activity after his older brother graduated from high school.
Timmy served as the batboy and manager of the football and wrestling team during Fred Jr.’s time at Unionville High School. He even got to participate in a couple of junior varsity wrestling matches.
But when his brother’s time at Unionville came to an end, there was a void that needed to be filled. So his father placed a call to an old friend with a connection to the West Chester baseball program to see if the Rams could use a batboy.
It didn’t take long to get a response from former coach Mark Jackson.
“Before the night was over, we got a call back to tell us he’s in,” Fred Hoge Sr. said. “That was how it developed.”
Hoge left an impression on those around him with his work ethic and positive attitude. His attributes have helped him serve as a constant in a program that has seen its share of changes despite its success on the field
Jackson was replaced by Jad Prachniak in 2012 and won the Rams’ first national championship in his first season. When Prachniak left for Delaware in 2021, LaRosa stepped in.
As a former West Chester All-PSAC second baseman who remained close to his alma mater even before returning, LaRosa was already aware of Hoge and his role with the team before he was hired. But just to make sure, athletic director Terry Beattie told the coach to reach out to the popular batboy.
“When I got the phone call from Terry Beattie, he said there’s one person I need you to call first,” LaRosa recalled. “It’s Fred Hoge, Tim’s dad. He told me to introduce myself and let him know Timmy is going to be part of the program forever.”
» READ MORE: West Chester cruises to 12-3 win over University of Indianapolis in the Division II baseball championship
LaRosa is a member of the school’s athletic hall of fame. So is Hoge, at least unofficially, as a member of the 2012 national championship team that was inducted in 2022. Now age 37, Timmy also holds the distinction of being the only member of the current team with two championship rings, a fact he isn’t shy about telling people.
That might not be the case for much longer, depending on the results of the next few days. Asked if the Rams have what it takes to bring home the third championship trophy of his tenure as batboy, Hogue didn’t hesitate with an answer.
“Yeah!” he said, flashing a smile bright enough to illuminate an entire stadium without the benefit of lights.