Campus News

May 19th, 2026

Graduating Lakers honored at Region 20 tourney

Pitcher Kyle Schofield recognized as GC's 2026 Male Scholar Athlete

Frederick, MD – The Garrett College baseball team's graduating sophomores didn't make it to Saturday's commencement exercises – but they have a good excuse for their absence. The Lakers were minutes from playing host Frederick Community College in the NJCAA Division II Region 20 championship game by the time the College's commencement was completed.

That's not to say the 15 graduating sophomores didn't have a graduation. It was just slightly different from a typical commencement ceremony, taking place on Frederick's baseball field minutes after the Cougars defeated GC, 9-3, in the title game.

"Liz [Show, operations athletics director] brought their diplomas with her," said Eric Hallenbeck, GC's head baseball coach and administrative athletics director. "We asked Frederick if it was OK if we announced our Class of 2026 sophomores and the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year."

Hallenbeck said the graduates put an interesting twist on a time-honored tradition.

"At the end of the ceremony, they threw their baseball caps up in the air like you would normally throw a graduation cap," said Hallenbeck, adding, "I appreciate Frederick allowing us to recognize them on their field."

The Lakers weren't forgotten in the official Garrett College commencement exercises. There were 15 Garrett College baseball hats on 15 reserved seats, symbolizing the players who weren't physically present. In addition, once all attending graduates had been called, Garrett College Dean Julie Yoder read off the list of 15 baseball players graduating this year.

Sophomore pitcher Kyle Schofield was also recognized during commencement for his selection as Garrett College's Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. Schofield pitched sparingly during his two years with the Lakers, but Hallenbeck said his impact on the team went well beyond the field.

"Kyle's a consummate teammate," said Hallenbeck. "He always asks for things to do to help the team.

"He sees the game different from other players," Hallenbeck added. "He's always thinking a couple of steps ahead. It's kind of like having another coach in the dugout."

"That was an awesome surprise for me," Schofield said of the honor. "My professors were incredible working with me through my athletic schedule and really made this possible."

Schofield said his experience as a member of the baseball team was therapeutic.

"I didn't have the best experience in high school and I was kind of down on baseball," said Schofield. "When I got the opportunity to try out and make the team, and experience the culture Coach Hallenbeck built, it was a breath of fresh air. It was a great culture between teammates and coaches. I don't know if I'll ever again get to experience a team culture like that."

Schofield provided similar support the past two years as a student assistant with the men's basketball program.

"I've known Kyle since I was an assistant coach at Southern Garrett," said GC head men's basketball coach Matt McCullough. "He was in middle school and had a similar student assistant-type of role for us.

"When he arrived at Garrett and told me he was interested in being a student assistant, that was a no-brainer for me," McCullough continued. "He knows so much about the game of basketball. I relied heavily on him in terms of daily operations. He was a major part of the program."

"It was doing that work at Southern where I fell in love with basketball," said Schofield, who plans to major in electrical engineering at Frostburg State University. "When Coach McCullough got the job at Garrett, I was really happy. I knew I wanted to work in his program when I eventually got to Garrett."