Henry Hunter, senior catcher and team leader for the Georgia baseball team (36-11), played a key role in the team’s series win over No. 1 Arkansas last month, hitting a walk-off home run to seal the final game. As ninth-ranked Georgia looks for momentum heading into the Southeastern Conference tournament, Hunter talks about the team’s mindset, bouncing back from tough losses and what it means to lead both on and off the field.
This interview has been edited for clarity and timeliness.
Q: First, congrats on the walk-off homer against Arkansas — can you walk me through that moment and what was going through your head as you stepped up to the plate?
A: Absolutely, it was just kind of like we just got two outs, and just really not trying to do too much, just trying to find a way on base. And haven’t had a ton of success against lefties. So I was just, like I said, not trying to do too much. And got up there, gotten a good count, and next thing I knew, I got a good pitch, a hit, and hit it out and just was crazy, kind of blacked out around the bases.
Q: How do you help keep the team grounded when emotions are running high after both tough losses and big wins?
A: I would say, just continue to believe in ourselves, like just remind everybody that we are really good and baseball is a game of failure, and we’re gonna have ups and downs, and not try to get too high or too low, but just stay kind of steady and just believe in ourselves. And it’s kind of the message always.
Q: You’ve spoken about trust and confidence being important while playing at home in Episode 3 of the Inside Georgia Baseball documentary, how do those qualities show up?
A: Yeah, just like I said, believing in yourself. Being at home too definitely helps, because you have 8,000 people cheering you on, you know, that’s what Wes always talks about, these people don’t come to our games or root against us, you know, they come to cheer for us. So makes it a lot easier to go out there and play, play with confidence, play free when you’re at home and when you got a good, good group behind you and good team, good coaches. So it makes it a lot easier. Makes it fun.
Q: Coach Wes Johnson has emphasized consistency this season — how do you personally approach staying consistent behind the plate and at-bat?
A: I would say, just same routine, just being the same guy every single day, going through the same routine, kind of getting in just a rhythm of things. And if you can be consistent in your life, it helps you be kind of consistent on the field, so just kind of like the whole thing of just finding a routine, finding what works for you, and not looking too too deep into everything, just not getting anything too much power.
Q: How has your experience here at Georgia helped you grow as both a player and a leader?
A: It’s been tremendous, obviously, just having coaches and playing next players that are just awesome people, and I can learn a lot from and just being in a great environment all the time is like the best thing ever, just a lot of winners around here. And that’s something I look forward to every day coming to the field. Is just like being around a group of winners and super cool. It’s fun to learn from and just be around.
Q: Catching is one of the most demanding positions in baseball — what’s your routine like to stay physically and mentally ready throughout the season?
A: I guess just working out; I love working out and stuff. So I think just staying on top of it physically, and that kind of helps clear the mind, too, when you get in there and just kind of get to work, and especially when you get a little bit of an off there, some time off, kind of get your body right and get your mind right. Find that routine, find what works for you, and just kind of stick to it and trust it.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the rest of the season, both personally and as a team leader?
A: Definitely just want to contribute in anyway I can, and that’s gonna help us win, that when you know the fun is in the winning,so just in whatever avenue that I can help, I just want to help offensively, defensively, whatever it is off the field, you know, we just want to be the best team and be a big part of that. Just make an impact, positive impact every single day.
Kalana Garner is a student in the undergraduate certificate program at the Carmical Sports Media Institute at the University of Georgia.
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