Tyler Haddock '06 is one of the most versatile players in Ripon College Baseball history. A three-time All-Conference selection, including twice to the First Team, Haddock earned that distinction both as an infielder and pitcher. His career culminated as a senior when he was named Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Year, leading the Red Hawks in victories (8) on what is the winningest team in program history (34-7). A proven winner, Haddock was a part of three MWC Championship teams, while helping the team advance to the NCAA Tournament in all four of his years.

"Tyler was your typical great Division-III baseball player. He was good enough to start at third base, but was also talented enough to be our best pitcher," legendary Ripon baseball coach Bob Gillespie said. "It never bothered him to pitch the first game of a four-game series and still have enough arm to play third in the next three games."

A career .331 hitter, Haddock ranks sixth in school history for doubles (35), despite playing just two games (with two at-bats) as a freshman. He also ranks ninth in program history for runs batted in (99), while recording 16 home runs, seven triples, 91 runs scored, and a career slugging percentage of .564.

As good a hitter as Haddock was, he eventually became just as good, if not better, on the pitcher's mound. In 27 career appearances, including eight starts, Haddock recorded an Earned Run Average of 1.73, which ranks second all-time in MWC history. 

Entering his senior season, Haddock had pitched just 21 career innings, all coming in relief, but the team needed him to be a workhorse in his final season. He answered the call by hurling a team-high 76 innings, tying for the team lead with an 8-1 record, to go along with a 1.78 ERA, which is the 10th-lowest single season ERA in program history and ranked 25th in Division-III that season. Haddock also struck out a team-high 46 batters, helping the Red Hawks become the first and only MWC team to go undefeated during a 16-game conference season, en route to a third consecutive conference championship and fourth straight NCAA Regional Tournament appearance.

"As a Senior, I was very determined to help the team get back to Regionals and contend for a spot in the Division-III College World Series," Haddock said. "With as tough as it is to get an at-large bid to the postseason, we knew it was important to take care of business in the conference, which is exactly what we did."

That 2006 team advanced farther than any team in program history, coming within nine outs in the Regional Championship of going to the D-III College World Series for the first time in school history. In that game, Haddock went toe-to-toe with UW-Stevens Point pitcher and future Major League Baseball All-Star Jordan Zimmerman. With Ripon leading 4-2 after six innings, Haddock was replaced on the mound, only to see that lead disappear, as the Red Hawks eventually fell to the Pointers by a score of 6-4.

Haddock's career occurred in the middle of Ripon's baseball dynasty, which included 12 conference championships in an 18-year span. He was also a member of legendary coach Gordie Gillespie's final team at Ripon College, which was a legacy in and of itself.

"Gordie prepared me for so much more than just baseball games," Haddock said. "Without question, Gordie's lessons and philosophies centered around leadership, accountability, hard work, and team have carried into my daily life. He'd tell us that we could accomplish anything we wanted, but it required putting in the work necessary to achieve that result."

Baseball is what led Haddock to Ripon College, but once he arrived on campus, the Winneconne, Wis. native experienced more than he could ever have imagined.

"Because of the opportunity Coach Gillespie gave me to play baseball, I also was able to receive a great education, meet so many wonderful people, and find my wife," Haddock said. "I'm very proud to be a Red Hawk!"

A Politics & Government major and Business Administration and Economics double minor at Ripon, Haddock has worked at Kimberly-Clark in Neenah, Wis. for the past eight years where he currently serves as a Strategic Material Planner.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLICK HERE to view and read all of Ripon's archived '100 For 100' profiles, which will have each profile added to it once it is posted online.