Southest shortstop keeps going with his best friend in mind

The way Zach Borowiak sees it, Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team honored the late Jody Gajewski the best way possible -- by earning an NCAA Tournament berth.

"This is for him," said Borowiak, the Indians' standout junior shortstop. "I know he's looking over us and he's with us every step of the way."

Borowiak and Gajewski -- second cousins, best friends and roommates -- grew up together in Nashville, Ill. They were reunited when Gajewski transferred to Southeast from St. Louis University last year.

But in September, Gajewski was killed in an automobile accident not far from his home in Nasvhille after he and Borowiak spent the evening together.

"He and I had gone home to Nasvhille for the weekend," Borowiak said. "We had gotten back to my house and it was pretty late. He drove home and he must have fallen asleep. He was about 30 seconds from home.

"It was just his time, I guess. It's something you can't explain. But he's been a part of us. When things go bad, we turn to Jody and he provides strength."

Borowiak will think of Gajewski this weekend when the Indians compete in the four-team regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala., their reward for winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship after also capturing the OVC regular-season title.

Southeast (36-18) will play host Alabama (48-13) at 6:30 p.m. Friday, following a game between Florida Atlantic (43-18) and Auburn (34-24). The Indians are guaranteed of playing at least one game Saturday in the double-elimination event.

"I'm really pumped. It's a great feeling to be in a regional," Borowiak said. "I've looked forward to this the last three years. We've been so close, but we haven't been able to finish it off."

Borowiak has been the Indians' starting shortstop since he came to Cape Girardeau. He batted .299 as a freshman, with four home runs, 14 doubles and 26 runs batted in, as he made the Rawlings Freshmen All-American Team.

Last year, Borowiak increased his average to .313, with three homers, 16 doubles and 34 RBIs, to earn All-OVC. This season, Borowiak is hitting .329, with four homers, 16 doubles, three triples and 35 RBIs, although he was relegated to second-team All-OVC.

"Zach is such a big catalyst for us," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "He plays one of the more important positions on defense and then you throw in the fact he's one of the core offensive players for us.

"He's handled it for us tremendously since he got here. He has been a prominent player for us ever since he walked into our program."

Borowiak, easy-going and personable off the field yet intense on it, said he considers this something of a down year for him at the plate.

"This year I've been struggling a little with the bat, but I try not to take it out on the field," he said. "I expect a lot out of myself. If I'm not hitting good, I still want to do well in the field. I take pride in being a defensive leader."

Hogan considers Borowiak's offense more than acceptable, although that's not the most important aspect of his game. It's defense that sets him apart and it was on full display last week as he made one dazzling play after another to make the OVC All-Tournament squad.

"Zach is hard on himself because he's got high expectations. I don't fault a guy for that," Hogan said. "But he is in a such a prominent spot defensively, what he gives us offensively is really like a bonus. We wouldn't be where we are without him."

Trying to get as much out of his potential has always been important to Borowiak, but it's meant even more to him after Gajewski's death.

"It helps keep things in perspective and shows me how lucky I am to be playing baseball," Borowiak said. "I never want to come out here and take things for granted."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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