Two days before senior Kenan Kolanda and the Worcester State baseball team were supposed to leave for their Spring Break trip to Florida, the team was told that their trip had been cancelled, and a week later that their season had ended. The Lancers had played just two games.

Kenan started playing T-ball at the age of five. As he got older and better, he played Little League, travel AAU, and Legion. When he got to high school, he played all four years on the Wachusett Regional High School baseball team and started every game his junior and senior year. 

For Kenan, baseball was different than any other sport, and he never experienced a dull moment when playing the sport. “There are many small details that an ordinary fan watching would not understand or would maybe think adds to the length of the game,” he said. “As a player, these details could be the difference between winning and losing.”

When looking at colleges, Kenan wanted a school that was affordable, had a strong business program, was close to home, and had a strong baseball program. Worcester State checked all those boxes, and he became a Lancer. 

In Kenan’s freshman year, the Lancers brought home a MASCAC Championship and went on to the NCAA Regionals. After such a strong season, Kenan battled an injury that sidelined him for half of his sophomore season. Coming back is junior year, he had a lot to prove to get back on the field. He certainly didn’t disappoint on the team’s season opening Spring Break trip, batting .522 with seven runs scored and seven RBIs in eight games on the trip. He also smacked the game-winning home run against Husson University on the Florida swing. 

When finding out his season was canceled and his collegiate career was over, Kenan was devastated. “This was the best team chemistry we had in four years, so it hurt not being able to go out and compete with all the guys after working so hard in the offseason.” 

Baseball was so special to Kenan because of the team, and he will always cherish those memories with them. “You spend so much time with them during offseason training, practice, and games that you form unbreakable bonds, especially with the guys in your class that you have been competing with for all four years.”

Starting this new chapter in his life, Kenan is excited to continue playing baseball. He has been playing for summer ball for the Clinton 76ers of the Central New England Baseball Association for the past three years and is eager to go back. Until then, he is just trying to keep in good physical shape.

As for his team and the future players to come, Kenan said to never take anything for granted. “You never know what game will be your last.”

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