WOOSTER − He needed some time to recollect all the thoughts and feelings that were pouring inside of him.
Wooster baseball head coach Steve Young stood near second base where there was a spray painting of late sophomore second baseman Maddox Graser’s initials and jersey number two “MG 2”, who died on Friday, April 24.
Young stood there and let the raw emotions take over for about three minutes. Then pitcher/first baseman Brian Lapp walked over to his coach and they shared a moment.
In playing their first game since their 10-0 home win over West Holmes on April 21, Wooster (10-1, 7-0) made its long awaited return to the baseball diamond and first game without Graser to grab a 7-2 victory against Ohio Cardinal Conference opponent Lexington.
Asked how was the team’s emotions were coming into Monday’s game and Young said, “It was tough for me this morning. I think the team was more ready then me. It was one our guys needed. Something positive. We haven’t had anything positive for two weeks. It wasn’t pretty. It was a gritty win. I told them it was symbolic of the way Maddox played. Like a little dirt bag. I’m proud of them and I know Maddox is too.”
Wooster sophomore shortstop Wesley Wheeler, who made a slew of defensive outs on the evening and was close friends with Graser, shared his feelings coming into Monday’s game not being able to play with his infield partner anymore.
“He’s a guy I played with since six-years-old,” said Wheeler. “He’s played second with me and I played short. We were a middle infield duo. It’s tough losing that guy who was one of your best friends and somebody you played with your life.
“Coming into today, we were so ready to play for him. It was a lot of excitement but also nervousness. We were a little stressed but we were going to go out and have fun for Maddox.”
And that’s the main thing Young stressed to his team before their first game in 12 days: Go out and have fun.
“The focus was to come out and have fun,” he said. “You’re with your brothers. Guys you’ve played together with since you were four-five years-old. Maddox would want us to play. I don’t care what the result is. Just play hard, support each other and have fun.”
Taking over at second base for Maddox the rest of the season and who’s looking to form a strong infield partnership beside Wheeler is senior Adam Daugherty.
“I felt some pressure but I know if I tried to play like him, then I wouldn’t be playing to the best of my abilities,” Daugherty said. “It was a bit emotional because I practiced with him at the same position throughout the season and last year. We’ve had fun times off the field too. We were getting closer this year and then he’s gone. I knew I had to go out and play my game for him.”
“He will be our primary second baseman,” Young said of Daugherty. “He’s a senior. Last year he was on JV. It’s his time. What’s really cool was that Maddox’s dad talked to him and said, ‘There’s no pressure.’ We told him, ‘Just go play. Go be you.'”
Young said afterwards that the team has “a lot of moving parts” with Graser being gone, who said “was arguably our best player this year”. Yet, for this Generals team during the rest of this 2026 season, it will be dedicated to playing for Graser.
“Everyday. Every pitch. Everyday will be to honor him and the way he played the game,” said Young, as he started to get choked up. “Just making sure he’s not forgotten and it’s up to us to continue to honor his name.”
“His grittiness. He was as gritty, aggressive and hardworking as much as anyone you’re ever going to meet,” Wheeler said. “His passion for baseball was insane.”
“We’ll definitely be missing his presence,” Daugherty said. “He’s one of the best second basemen I’ve ever seen. It’ll be sad not watching him take the field.”
jamessimpson@gannett.com
Twitter/X: @JamesSimpsonII
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: ‘We were so ready to play for him’ – Wooster honors Maddox Graser, gets win to restart season
Reporting by James Simpson II, Wooster Daily Record / The Daily Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
