May 16, 2002
Wes Fewell's last game at (Columbia, Mo.) Hickman High School ended with him hitting a home run. On May 11, Fewell's last at bat in a Big 12 Conference game saw him hit a home run.
"It's kind of funny how that worked out. It's kind of neat doing that," said Fewell, an outfielder from Columbia.
The son of Hickman head coach, Kent Fewell, Wes came to be part of Missouri's successful baseball program.
"I wanted to play everyday and win. I wanted to be part of successful team," he said. "There was a little bit of pressure on me being from Columbia. Everybody was looking out for me and checking up on me, seeing how the hometown kid was doing. It didn't bother me too much."
And there was the added pressure of being a coach's son.
"One of the tough things was having to do a lot of extra running," said Wes Fewell. "It was a special relationship having one's dad as a coach. It's always going to be something I'm going to remember him by."
As a result of that relationship, Fewell would like to coach himself one day. However, that will have to wait as he plans on pursuing a dream of professional baseball.
"I'm not sure what's next," said Fewell, admitting he has a few classes remaining before graduating. "I hope to either sign as a free agent or play independent ball somewhere. Eventually, I'd like to coach a high school team. I don't know if that's going to happen anytime soon. I'm thinking more down the road. If not being a head coach, then as an assistant somewhere. I'll do about anything to be around the game."
His ability to stay part of the team helped him contribute in the May 11th game. In addition to hitting the solo home run, Fewell made two running catches in the ninth inning while playing center field.
"It's definitely my highlight of the season," he said. "It was getting down to the wire and it felt good to contribute."
But Fewell will remember more than the games when his MU playing days come to a close after the Northern Iowa series.
"I'll remember more the friendships I've made. It's like a family away from home," he said. "I've made some really good friends. I'm always going to remember the senior class. I'd like to be remembered as one helluva guy, someone who always gave his best, was competitive and was a good friend on and off of the field."