The Hillsdale College baseball team's Class of 2020 isn't big in number, but it did leave an outsized impact on the program in its four years on campus.
The Chargers' three seniors, Jake Rhodes (Chelsea, MI/Chelsea), Josh Stella (Grand Rapids, MI/Catholic Central) and Dante Toppi (Plymouth, MI/Detroit Catholic Central), have been an important part of Hillsdale College's rise over the last half-decade into a legitimate conference contender and Division II tournament qualifier.
All three contributed to Hillsdale College's 2018 G-MAC tournament championship season, as the Chargers went 4-1 in the tournament and beat Kentucky Wesleyan 15-2 in the winner-take-all final game for the program's first conference title of any kind since it left the rank of independents to join the GLIAC in 1975.
That victory also helped Hillsdale make its second NCAA Division II tournament appearance in program history, and its second in three seasons after a 26-year drought since joining the NCAA in 1990.
Beyond the wins and losses, however, all three players were critical leaders for the Chargers, whose commitment to the program and work ethic helped build a culture that carries forward with the classes below them.
"When I think of this group, the first thing that comes to mind is that every one of them is a great teammate and a great leader," Hillsdale College coach Eric Theisen said. "You couldn't ask for a better group of role models for the young team we had this season than these guys."
Due to the cancellation of the remainder of the spring season in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rhodes, Stella and Toppi didn't get the end to their careers they deserved, but today, the day that was supposed to be their Senior Day doubleheader against Tiffin, Hillsdale College salutes its three seniors for their accomplishments as Chargers.
From a family with deep ties to Hillsdale College, Rhodes was a model Charger during four years with the baseball program, posting the team's highest GPA and serving as a captain his senior year.
On the baseball diamond, Rhodes started 59 games in the outfield, posting a .974 fielding percentage over his career and giving the Chargers a dependable option in the field and at the plate.
As a hitter, Rhodes showed flashes of power with eight doubles and five home runs in his career, and also a knack for timely hits, including a walk-off double off the left field fence in an 8-7 victory on Feb. 17, 2018 over Saginaw Valley St.
Perhaps his biggest impact on the team came as a leader over his final two seasons, setting an example for his younger teammates every day in practice.
"As someone with two older brothers who played in this program, you can tell Jake has tremendous pride and respect for the name on the front of his jersey, and he brought that with him every day in practice and games," Theisen said. "His work ethic and his attitude were always second to none, and he was someone who really represented our program with class and set an example for everyone around him."
Rhodes graduates Summa Cum Laude this spring with a degree in Exercise Science and will be pursuing a career in physical therapy.
Stella's career numbers don't do justice to a player who made massive improvements over his first three years as a Charger and who had settled into a high-leverage spot in Hillsdale's bullpen in his final season.
The senior was 2-1 for his career with a save and a 5.63 ERA in 25 appearances, but in six appearances in 2020 he had posted a 0.77 ERA and struck out 10 of the 47 batters he faced before the season was abruptly stopped.
Stella first served notice that he was on track for a breakout campaign in 2020 in the team's first game of the season against Indianapolis on Feb. 15, entering in the top of the fifth with two outs and two runners in scoring position and striking out the batter he faced to preserve Hillsdale's lead in a 6-1 victory.
His steady growth was the product of hard work and determination that impressed his teammates and coaches throughout his four years at Hillsdale.
"Josh is someone that never stopped developing and growing, and by the end he had really maximized his talent and turned himself into one of our best arms," Theisen said. "He did everything he could to get better, and it was really fun to watch him get on the mound and compete for the last four years."
Stella graduates with a degree in Exercise Science, and will attend Grand Valley St. University in the fall to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
An important contributor for four seasons and one of the team's every-day outfielders for his last three, Toppi started 118 games and was a critical part of the Charger lineup.
During Hillsdale's run to the 2018 G-MAC tourney title, Toppi played a huge role, finishing with eight hits in five games, including two doubles and two home runs, and adding seven RBIs.
For his career, Toppi hit .297 at the plate with eight doubles and 15 home runs, driving in 72 runs, and was a great fielder as well, with a .983 fielding percentage across four years.
Toppi will be most remembered for the intensity and enthusiasm with which he played the game throughout his career at Hillsdale.
"Dante only has one gear in everything he does, and that's all-out, all the time," Theisen said. "He's the perfect example of the type of effort and attitude we look for from all our players in our program.
"Through the ups and downs of the season, he showed up every day with a smile, went to work and never complained. He's someone who enjoyed every second he got with his teammates and with this sport, and that's the type of guy you want on your team if you're a coach."
Toppi was off to a great start to 2020, and with nine stolen bases through 12 games was on pace to break the Chargers' single-season stolen base record. He finished with 36 stolen bases in his career, the ninth-most in program history.
Toppi graduates this spring with a degree in Applied Mathematics and has accepted a Technical Sales Engineer position at Texas Instruments.
We are proud of Jake, Dante and Josh for everything they've achieved during their time here, and we're grateful for the positive impact they've made on the baseball program and Hillsdale College as a whole. We wish them the best of luck in what is sure to be a bright future for all of them.
Thank you, seniors, and charge on!
Photo: (from left) Josh Stella, Jake Rhodes, Dante Toppi