Baseball is well known as “America’s Pastime,” and come spring, many people are looking for any excuse to get to a baseball field. For UVU’s own Kai Hatch, baseball has always been apart of his life, and hitting the diamond was something that naturally came to him.
Hatch, a senior shortstop from Bellingham, Washington, essentially grew up with a baseball in his hand. His father played baseball for BYU and instilled a love and passion for the game of baseball, one that has helped and carried him to much success at Utah Valley.
“[My father] taught me how play and grow a love for the game,” Hatch said. “We always have played baseball as a family.”
With much love and passion for the game, Hatch turned that into many hours of practice that have helped him become successful on every level of baseball he has played. In high school, Hatch helped his team to
a championship in conference, districts, regional and state. Those titles were also enough to earn him the Washington State player of the year award.
Some might think that with a father and an uncle who played for BYU, going there would the course for Hatch to take, that it would only make sense. For Hatch, it was quite simple to come to UVU.
“They recruited me out of high school and gave me the best chance to play from the start,” Hatch said. “I really liked the fit and the coaching staff.”
Since coming to UVU, Hatch has made the most of his time, playing all four years, starting in 148 games for the Wolverines and has been named twice to the first team All Great West Conference. He was named to Great West’s Academic All-Conference team and was named to Capital One Academic All-District VIII first team. Most importantly, he helped the Wolverines win the Great West Conference each season.
Hatch has helped the team in so many ways and continues to help them stay focused and play to win another GWC title this season and leave the conference as champions.
“We take pride in that, and that is something we focus on,” Hatch said. “We want to win the Great West Conference and would love to leave as champions and win it all the years we were in it [GWC].”
While winning the conference is something to work for, there will be life after baseball for Hatch, who plans on applying to dental school when he is done here at UVU. But, for now, fans will be dazzled as he continues to play and enjoy the sport he loves.
