The Drury Baseball team has exploded into the 2022 season. The Panthers have won 13 of their first 15 games and are ranked 28th in the nation. The success can be divided up between the players and coaching staff, but one player who has especially stood out has been Nikko Calabro. Calabro is a fourth-year player and student for Drury who has excelled in the classroom as well as the field. Nikko is an Exercise Physiology major and plans to start a career in athletic training.

Nikko is known on campus for being one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. He is gracious and always seems to be in a good mood. He also helps others without asking and is respected by his coaches and teammates.

Calabro has been the spark in the Panthers lineup as he has batted a whopping .419 over the first quarter of the season. That puts him in the top tier of players for batting average in the entire country. He has hit five homers and tallied 26 hits to add to his production.

Calabro clearly is a great player and he credits his success to his coaches and teammates. He said that his mentality in the game is to “trust my coaches and the process that comes with it.”

Calabro also believes that he has such a high work ethic thanks to the way he carries himself in life. He gives his all to “become the best version of myself and to help others do the same.”

This drive and love for the game started at a young age for Calabro. He recalls that “ever since I could remember, I was playing ball.” This passion for playing baseball has continued to this day.

As the Panthers move forward into the season, the hopes of winning and making it to the national tournament are on the minds of all. Calabro especially believes that the Panthers have what it takes to get there. The team has had success in the past and wants to get back to a regional as they did in 2019.

Calabro recalled how special that moment was, “It was awesome to be with the guys that you have worked so hard with all offseason and during the regular season, be rewarded by hearing our name get called to go”.

Calabro believes that this year’s team has a special talent and the same drive to get to a regional as the 2019 team had. Nikko asserted that “we’ve got the talent, there’s no doubt there. It’s just about putting it all together and trusting one another.”

As a Drury student, I am rooting for the team to keep up and the good work. I also am proud of Calabro and wish him continued success.

Article by Payton Hannah