Cal Sullivan serves as invaluable leader for Kirkwood baseball team

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cal Sullivan has made an invaluable impact on Kirkwood’s baseball season.

Scan the Eagles statistical leaders and you’ll immediately find him perched atop multiple offensive categories – hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, runs and batting average.

His influence isn’t limited to powering the offense and terrorizing opposing pitchers. Sullivan’s affect on his teammates extends beyond the foul lines.

“The best part about it is he's our leader. He's our guy,” Kirkwood Coach Todd Rima said. “When Cal speaks, guys listen. He's the heart and soul of our program right now, and to have that guy carry the load of being the leader, but also to go out and produce is pretty special. That's what he's been able to do to this point.”

Sullivan has embraced that role this season. He is determined to contribute on and off the field. Rima’s praise isn’t lost on the former Cedar Rapids Prairie all-stater.

“That means everything to me,” Sullivan said. “I respect that guy more than anybody, but it's comes with an expectation that every day I’ve got to show up. When there is something that needs to be said I’ve got to say it, or when the field needs set up before practice I better be the first one out there helping set up.

“Bringing everybody else up around me is one of the most important things to me because, as a team, we're only going to go as far as our last hitter, our last pitcher.”

Kirkwood’s doubleheader sweep of Iowa Lakes Friday at home was prime example of Sullivan’s season. He went 5-for-7 with two home runs, two walks, seven RBIs and four runs combined in 15-2 and 12-11 victories, helping the Eagles improve to 22-9.

“I just trust my training and trust the guys before and after me in the order,” Sullivan said. “Top to bottom, we're all really good hitters and just having the trust that whether I get a pitch to hit, and I hit it, and then they're going to hit me in.”

Baseball flows through Sullivan’s arteries. His dad, Mike, played baseball at University of Nebraska-Omaha, where his mom, Deb, was a Hall of Fame softball player. His sister, Nicole, played softball for DePaul.

Natural talent aside, Sullivan’s tireless work ethic has been key to his numbers this season.

“Cal's just that consistent worker that shows up every day,” Rima said. “Works hard. He has a purpose to everything he does. and then he's as good as anybody at carrying over what he does in practice to the game. He's earning everything that he's getting right now because his preparation is off the charts.

“He's just taking it to another level. Now, his confidence is at an all-time high. He knows that he's prepared to have success and that's allowing it to happen.”

Sullivan, a corner infielder, dedicated a lot of time during the offseason to address his weaknesses. He also focused on learning how teams approach him. The effort helped build confidence for this season.

During the season, he takes online classes and then heads to the diamond for practice and batting practice. The goal is to have intent with each swing and training with purpose.

“Every day coming in is a new opportunity to get better,” Sullivan said. “Every day we're out here, our coaches and staff are going to put us in the right spot to be the best that we possibly can. All we have to do is show up with the mindset that every day we're here is another opportunity to get better. If we're not taking advantage of it somebody else is.”

The second-team all-region performer a year ago is reaping the rewards of his sweat and devotion. Sullivan is batting .471 before Saturday’s series finale with Iowa Lakes. He has 49 hits, including eight home runs and 16 doubles, with 91 total bases.

More than half of his hits have been extra-base hits. Sullivan, who was Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week last week, also has 45 RBIs and scored 42 runs.

The goal is to put his best swing on the ball, no matter what pitch comes at him.

“I think last year I was a little timid at the plate or scared to make a mistake,” Sullivan said. “This year, the real jump I made has been being more aggressive, like letting it all go. We talk about being aggressive early in the count. I think that that's been super successful. Just having an approach and having a plan with two strikes is kind of everything and in my at-bats.”

Rima said Sullivan is in great shape and strong as ever. He is gaining more interest from NCAA Division I programs and he will have plenty of opportunities to continue his college career.

“It’s starting to pick up for him,” Rima said. “He's going to have some options. No question in our mind, he’s a middle of the order bat at the Division I level. Just trying to find the right place for him.

“He’s an unbelievable kid, great family and great student. He's a kid that you want in your program.”

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