By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Turlock native leading Air Force squad on the diamond
adam
Adam Groesbeck of Turlock is in his second year at the U.S. Air Force Academy and has flourished in his second year with the Falcons baseball team, ranking in the top 10 in nine different categories, including first in doubles (23) and stolen bases (20). - photo by Photo Contributed

Adam Groesbeck flourished in baseball as a Turlock High Bulldog after he led the team in batting average (.392) during his senior season in 2013 and since then the sky has been the limit at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

In his sophomore season at the Division I school, Groesbeck, who started in second base as a freshman, has been starting as the regular center fielder and leading off for the Falcons and since then his numbers have sky rocketed.

In his first year, Groesbeck hit .148 in 38 games played in 81 at-bats. But now in his second season he leads the Mountain West Conference in batting average thus far at .374.

“I feel like I’ve done pretty well over the last two years, but it was tough making the switch from high school to college baseball. You figure it out with more reps,” said Groesbeck. “This year has gone a lot better and even with success there are always things to work on and get better at.”

Groesbeck has been absolutely dominant in the MWC, ranking in the top 10 in nine different categories, including first in doubles (23) and stolen bases (20).

“The maturity process since coming here has been a pretty big deal. There isn’t one specific person that has helped with it,” said Groesbeck. “Being at a school where their goal is to develop leaders, you are trained and taught all the time on how to be a leader on and off the field.”

Groesbeck has been a catalyst for the Falcons and has separated himself from the rest with a 10 and 14 game hitting streaks throughout the span of 45 games played thus far.

The Air Force Falcons have already surpassed the most wins in a single season in school history with 21 and are three wins away from tying the most wins in a season in the MWC (14).

“Team success is always the most important thing. It doesn’t matter how well you do individually, winning is what matters,” Groesbeck said. “I try to play my best and help the team win every time I go out, whether I get four hits or I don’t get a hit at all — as long as we win.”

The Falcons are currently sitting in fifth place at 10-14 in league with six league games remaining before the start of the MWC Tournament Championships.

“We could definitely be in a better position, but we are confident and believe we can beat anybody going into the tournament,” Groesbeck said. “Anything can happen in baseball and teams get hot and on a roll all the time at the end of the year and make runs deep into the post season, so we will just have to see.”