All in the family: Charlie Sarsfield adds to family legacy with Linn-Mar baseball

MARION – Linn-Mar’s Charlie Sarsfield comes from a baseball family.

His dad, Chad, played for the Lions through 1991, continuing his career at Mount Mercy. His older brother, Coy, was a 2021 graduate who moved on to University of Iowa.

Sarsfield has filled big cleats and appreciates his family tradition.

“It means everything,” Sarsfield said. “Obviously, (Linn-Mar Coach Kyle) Rodenkirk coached my brother and he's an awesome coach. He's always looking out for us. I’m just trying to build on the legacy and just trying to be better than my brother and my dad.”

Sarsfield has extended the family impact on the Lions’ program. He reached base three of four times, drove in a run and scored twice in Linn-Mar’s 7-2 non-conference victory over Mount Vernon on Tuesday night at Oak Ridge Middle School.

Rodenkirk channeled his inner Yogi Berra, describing sophomore Charlie Sarsfield.

“He’s really our sparkplug,” Rodenkirk said with a chuckle. “He’s 100 percent baseball, 150 percent of the time, if that make sense?”

To put it in layman’s terms, Sarsfield is a first to the field and last to leave for the Lions (1-2). He loves the game.

“I'm trying to better myself every day,” Sarsfield said. “If I show up early, it brings more people to show up early and stay later. Just getting them better as well.”

Baseball has been a big part of Sarsfield life and remains a source of family bonding. It has been that way as long as he can remember.

“I was at the park every day when I was a kid,” Sarsfield said. “We watched baseball every night. We just love it, and my life is baseball.”

Interestingly, Chad and Coy are tied for fourth on Linn-Mar’s list of most runs in a season, scoring 47 in 1991 and 2018, respectively. Charlie is one spot behind them with 46 last season.

Sarsfield claimed he engages in some good-natured smack talk with his dad and brother. Almost every time they get together the conversation gravitates to baseball and who is the better player or hitter. The youngers Sarsfield was confident in his response to who is the best.

“Personally, I think it's me,” Sarsfield said. “I will be the best, but still have a lot to prove.”

Rodenkirk said Sarsfield knows what to do in every situation and has a high baseball intellect. Sarsfield doesn’t act like a know-it-all, though. Rodenkirk said it is enjoyable to work with a player that listens and doesn’t think he knows all the answers.

“He's still coachable,” Rodenkirk said. “And that is that is very, very unique. and I give him a lot of props for that because a lot of kids say, ‘I don't need to listen to you. You’re old school or whatever. He's very coachable kid, he's a very friendly kid, and he's a competitor.”

Sarsfield led the Lions Tuesday with two runs, demonstrating his athleticism and ability on the bases. He drew a leadoff walk in the third, stole second and third and scored on an errant throw, putting Linn-Mar up, 2-1.

Dylan Muszynski singled, stole second and crossed the plate in the first to open the scoring. Sarsfield and Muszynski place a lot of pressure on defense with speed.

“Him and Muszynski are both like that and it makes it kind of fun,” Rodenkirk said. “When they get on first, unless you have a stud catcher, they're probably getting on third or eventually scoring,”

Sarsfield was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in a run in the five-run fourth that included a two-run single by Colton Bergen.

“I’m just trying to get on base and get our team going,” Sarsfield said. “Steal second, steal third and then score right away. Get on base so my teammates can drive me in.”

“That's what I'm trying to do. Bring the energy up as a team and keep things going.”

Mount Vernon (2-1) received three hits and a run from Colin Bentley. Porter Chapman also reached base three times for the Mustangs.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com