Husker Baseball Moms … Q&A with the Mount Rushmore of Moms

Behind every good baseball player is a good baseball Mom. That may not have been how the original saying was written, but it doesn’t make it any less true. In light of Mother’s Day I thought I would reach out to some of the unsung heroes – the Husker Baseball Moms. Not just any moms either, the mothers of the players who are called upon in critical game situations. Bullpen Moms.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have relied upon some very unique talent from the bullpen this year. In fact, a coworker of a player’s mom drew what he calls the Mt. Rushmore of the Husker bullpen. This article is about those Mt. Rushmore Moms; Jake Hohensee’s mom, Roxann, Colton Howell’s mom, Mary, Jeff Chesnut’s mom, Susan, and Josh Roeder’s mom, Debbie.

Hohensee, Howell, Chestnut and Roeder as Mt Rushmore (photo Kelli Anne, artist anonymous)

Baseball season always falls on the Mother’s Day holiday so rather than enjoying a wonderful brunch or a breakfast in bed served by your son, these Husker moms would pack up some socks, cleats, baseballs, gloves and maybe a few tailgate supplies and have spent the holiday seated on a hard bench or chair at the ballpark. YEAH for you Moms!

Why pitcher moms and not position players’ moms? Because these Huskers get put into PRESSURE filled situations. The whole outcome of a game can rest on the shoulders (and arms) of these pitchers. The relievers and closers. What is it like for these moms as they watch their Huskers? How do these moms deal with the pressure? After speaking with them I’ve developed a scale, from Howell to Hohensee I call it, or relaxed to highly stressed. Chesnut and Roeder fall somewhere in the middle.

Q: These bullpen pitchers are called up on in the middle, or end of the game to “save” the day. Many times the bases have already been filled by opposing players. How do you moms deal with the stress?

Roxann Hohensee – When I hear he’s warming up it starts. I kind of get sick to my stomach a little. I would walk and pace in the walkway, stop when he throws, and then keep pacing until the next throw. I’ve now started keeping book in order to distract myself some and to keep my butt in the seat. It helps. I’m still pacing on the inside though.

Colton Howell (courtesy Mary Howell)

On the relaxed side of the spectrum, I asked Mary Howell the same question and in unflappable Howell style she said, “Oh honey, it’s just baseball.” She’s not making light of the game, but merely putting it into perspective. Mary and Colton (and sister Audra) lost Colton’s dad in February of 2013. After absorbing that incredible life change, the balls and strikes simply have a different place now in her world view. She carries an inner strength that has a calming peace about it. A calming effect if you will. As if you know that “whatever happens next, together we’ll get through this.” I think this rubs off on the other moms. There are nerves for Mary of course, “But I’m not throwing the ball. All the pressure is on the kids. So I can’t get too freaked out about things.” I envy her steadiness.

Husker Basebally pitcher, Colton Howell and his mom, Mary Howell

Debbie Roeder has what I would call “steely nerves.” She’s nervous when Josh takes the hill too, but she just sits and watches. She says a little prayer and takes it in, admitting to sometimes even holding her breath, and occasionally holding someone’s hand to get through it. “I’m quiet, but inside I’m not,” she said. Cool under pressure. Probably where Josh gets it.

Susan Chesnut is another quiet worrier. And she worries about everyone like a true team mom does. She worries if the batter gets hit by one of Jeff’s pitches. She also worries when the ball comes off the bat right back at Jeff.  Her stress starts when Jeff heads to the bullpen or when someone says “here he comes.” She admits she holds her breath when he throws too but she just keeps quiet in the seats.

Togetherness is another common theme for these Husker players and their mothers. Mary Howell credits Coach Erstad’s philosophies and messages to his players for the team chemistry and sense of family within the players. This has rubbed off onto the players’ families as well. Before most games they all meet up and share some tailgate goodies and conversation. I asked them what will they miss most about Nebraska Baseball when it’s over. It’s the times hanging out together that all the women agreed they will miss the most.

Roxann H – There’s a real family feel to it, a togetherness in hanging out. Getting together with the other parents is what I’ll miss the most.

Jake and Matthew Hohensee (photo Roxann Hohensee)

Mary H – I’ll miss the sport. It’s different at the college level. Instead of the competitive feel between kids (and parents) in high school, this is a group of people all cheering and all pulling for each other.

Susan C agreed with these ladies adding, “Yes, it’s a close knit group. It’s like family, but we all get along. There are no divas in this group. We are all part of the same team.”

Debbie R – No matter where you came from to get here, everyone is supportive no matter what is going on in the field. No finger pointer. It’s a true family.

Well it can’t all be flowers and sunshine. There has to be a downside, right? All the ladies had to think hard with the question, “what’s the bad thing about being a baseball mom over the years?” Some of the typical answers were there. The all day long tournaments, sitting on bad bleachers and the like were mentioned, but some fun anecdotes too.

Baseball pitcher, Jake Hohensee and his mom, Roxann Hohensee (photo Kelli Anne)

Mary Howell – I’ll never forget one time when he was young, we weren’t expected to go long in the tournament so I put a roast in the crockpot that morning. They ended up in the Championship game and I kept thinking, I sure hope the roast will be ok. Some 14 hours later it was ok, and “it just fell apart,” she said laughing.

Roxann H – There is nothing worse than opening a car door when it has been sitting out in the sunshine and there is a baseball bag in there. That wall of smelly socks hits your nose like a fastball. And the other bad thing over the years was probably that our backyard was worn bare of grass from all the kids coming over and playing baseball. (adding with a smile) But that was kind of a good thing too.

Susan C – The worst thing…..It’s hard seeing him trying so hard on the mound and things not going his way. And the WORST part is having comments from the crowd that it’s not going well. It hurts. That’s someone’s son out there.

Debbie R – I would say the endless ice and soreness maybe. No, the worst part more recently is the social media or bad comments from the crowd. The mean stuff. I mean I can understand being frustrated with the way the game is going, but to make it personal and say something so mean about a player is horrible. That’s someone’s kid out there. And I guarantee no one wants things to go well more than the kid on the mound.

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I love the Mama Bear instincts all these women have about their sons. And as Husker fans we should hold ourselves to a higher standard when attending the games and shouldn’t say bad things about a player. Bear that in mind the next time you’re at the ballpark!

Part II of this interview will post tomorrow. We talk facial hair, the possible draft, superstitions and what’s BEST about being a Husker Mom. In the meantime, GO BIG RED!!