Lansing’s Avery Wells to play D3 baseball at Marywood

Lansing baseball has been the cream of the crop for sports in Tompkins County. To go along with their multiple sectional titles and state tournament runs—including a state championship in 2012—the Bobcats have consistently seen their alumni excel in the college scene. Recent graduate Avery Wells is set to continue this trend.

Wells will take his talents to Marywood University, a Division III school in Pennsylvania. He first came in contact with the program during a showcase in the fall where he met assistant coach Morgan Theobald. His initial visit to Marywood went well, touring the campus and meeting head coach Jason Thiel and learning more about the program. But his next visit where he stayed overnight with a couple of his future teammates sealed the deal.

“I got to really experience what actually staying in the dorm was like, so that was definitely a big factor,” Wells said. “I really enjoyed hanging out with them all because I got to meet a lot of the team. They took me and one of the other recruits and just tried to give us a fun time, played sports and stuff. And then the following day, I got to experience some classes. Regardless of baseball, it definitely also took my nerves off of college in general, getting to experience a little bit of what the classes were like, realizing they might really not be as difficult and worrisome as I was expecting. [It was] the interest that was all shown to me and the effort they put towards getting me there and making me feel welcome.”

If there’s one thing that Wells will bring to a program that’s only made the postseason twice in its history, it’s a winning mentality. After all, he was used to winning during his time with the Bobcats. He helped Lansing win sectionals titles in 2022 and 2023, the latter of which resulted in a state championship appearance. This past season, he helped them win their first IAC championship since 2013. Wells credited their strong bond for all their triumphs.

“I really think it’s just the team atmosphere,” Wells said. “We’re a family, that team. We all grew so close to each other during those times. Nothing else mattered besides spending one more day with each other. I know especially during that championship run in states, every game was pretty stressful. There were plenty of moments we all thought we might just be going home. But we’re all there. We all have each other’s backs. We fought for each other.”

As Wells alluded to, there were plenty of times where the Bobcats’ backs were against the wall. For example, in the 2023 state semifinal against Albertus Magnus, the Bobcats trailed 2-0 heading into the sixth inning. After Korbin Lovejoy tied the game with a two-run triple, Wells gave them the lead with a bunt single to score Lovejoy. That was one of many moments that defined Wells’ unforgettable time with the Bobcats.

“We definitely would not have gotten anywhere we went without a little bit of luck on our side,” Wells said. “But I think it really was just something in every single person on the team. They didn’t want to give up. They didn’t want to be done. With a sport like baseball, the game’s never really over. Anything can happen at any moment. How we played in those moments was to get to the next [play] and find a way. [It] doesn’t have to be pretty. It doesn’t have to be clean. It just has to happen.”

Wells was a key contributor for the Bobcats in the middle of the lineup. During his junior and senior seasons, he batted over .300 and earned IAC All-Star honors both times. Whenever Wells steps up to the plate, confidence is key.

“I’ve definitely learned over the years that when I do struggle, it’s due to that lack of confidence,” Wells said. “It’s due to being worried. But after all the experience we’ve had after all the countless pitchers I’ve faced, I’ve learned that you can’t let yourself be beat before you walk up to the plate. You have to go up there expecting to get a hit. You have to remain calm. You get three strikes every at bat and all it takes for you to get a hit is one.”

Along with his growing confidence hitting-wise, Wells has also taken great strides with his baserunning.

“I’ve spent countless hours in the weight room trying to get faster and stronger,” Wells said. “ My speed’s increased over the years, so it’s made it easier. I can definitely recall countless times that just making something happen on the bases has caused a huge impact. It’s not just straight speed that helps you with that stuff. There’s plenty of other things—[like] paying attention to pitchers—that just helps you get better at that.”

With a remarkable winning pedigree and a multitude of skills under his belt, Wells is set up for success in the next step of his career.