There must be something in the air, the water or maybe even the infamous white squirrels in Olney that help to mold great baseball players.

Four players presently playing for Eastern’s baseball team are from Olney Central College; seniors infielder Aaron Shelbourne, pitcher Micah Gray and outfielder Kirk Walters and junior infielder Kyle Haines. Former Eastern player Ben Duke also took the journey from Olney Central to Eastern.

Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said there are a lot of junior colleges in Illinois, but Olney Central is one of the best.

Olney head coach Dennis Conley an Eastern graduate, is originally from Charleston and a driving force behind the transfers from Olney.

“It starts with them,” Conley said. “Those are four kids that have put a lot of time and energy to do something here. They all got great opportunities to play at Eastern and hopefully some of the things we taught them here will carry over to the next level.”

All the players from Olney have taken something with them from Conley.

Shelbourne said he really admires Conley.

“Conley is an older guy, but I think he works really well with people,” Shelbourne said. “He is a real people person, and he is easy to approach.”

Shelbourne said Conley helps finding a place for his players to go and helps them with the transition from junior college to a different school.

Haines said he also learned a lot from Conley.

“He does a good job getting the best out of his players every day. He teaches them to win every game,” Haines said.

Haines said Conley always told his players not to worry about what went on in the past – just to let it go because it’s the past.

Haines said it’s a big change going from a junior college to a Division I school.

“He really helps everybody move on, and he tries to help everyone play somewhere after Olney,” Haines said. “He really does a good job preparing you to move to the next level.”

Walters said Conley taught them how to play the right way; taught them to play hard.

“That is how we all play, we get fired up,” Walters said. “I think all four of us do admire him, Conley is a good coach.”

Gray also said Conley helps to prepare his players for the next level.

“I just think Conley prepares his players to go on and play the next level, he prepares you mentally and physically and with every aspect of the game,” Gray said.

Gray said Conley knows he is probably one of the smartest coaches he has ever played under.

When it comes to the players both coaches are impressed at the degree of skill and

dedication.

“I notice the players from Olney know the game better; one thing Conley does well is teach the game, and these guys are all really competitive,” Schmitz said.

“All the guys are unselfish and when you get guys that come from winning programs it makes it better to be a coach,” Schmitz said.

This season, the four players from Olney Central are displaying what they have learned from Conley with their performance and attitude on the field.

Shelbourne’s move from short stop to first base has been a prime example.

“Shelbourne has accepted the change of going from starting short stop last year to starting first base this year,” Schmitz said. “He is willing to do whatever we think is needed to win this Ohio Valley Conference tournament.”

Haines a been a steady producer at the top of the Panthers’ lineup.

“Haines has a guy who can get on base with a single and maybe even hit a double or a home run,” Schmitz said.

Conley said Haines has a tremendous work habit and puts in a lot of time.

“I have not coached anyone better than Haines who worked so hard wanting to improve himself,” Conley said. “Any success he gets is very much deserved.”

Conley said Haines is a very skilled, hard worker.

Gray was Eastern’s No. 3 pitcher last year until Schmitz moved him to a different spot this year.

“I moved him to an important relief role, and he accepted that in a position where he could have balked he got us over the hump,” Schmitz said. “Like in game one Sunday.”

Schmitz said by the time the season is over, Gray will be very important in his relief role.

“Gray is a pitcher that has to rely on his ability to compete. He has strong arms and good throws, but his biggest attribute is to compete; he is not going to back down from anyone,” Conley said.

Schmitz said Walters is the reason senior catcher/infielder Bret Pignatiello is having such a good year

“Walters has been really hot and you don’t want to pitch to him so you have to pitch to Pignatiello,” Schmitz said.

Conley said Walters is a great athlete with a good attitude toward the game.

“When he is good, he is really good and hopefully he finds that up there and it leads it to great things,” Conley said.

Players struggle with the adjustments when they have to go from a junior college to a Division I or different level of school.

The transition was easier for these players because of the players they already knew from Olney.

Haines came one year after the other three players and said he had an easier transition because of them.

“It really helps to come into the program knowing some of the guys; it helps you adapt to the other team members,” Haines said.

Gray said it is pretty cool having his former Olney teammates around

“We can go aside and talk about things we did at Olney,” Gray said.