When researching the Drury baseball career of Joe Rohlfing, one could not ignore a common theme. A common thread that accompanied every comment or memory was that: as outstanding a baseball player as Joe Rohlfing may have been, he was and still is an even better person. Mark Stratton, in his own inimitable way, may have said it best. When asked to comment on Joe, Coach Stratton’s first words were: “Let me tell you a little something about Joe Rohlfing. He is the guy you want your daughter to marry.” While those words speak volumes, for purposes of today’s event, the focus will remain on Joe’s contributions to the Drury Panther baseball program.
Joe Rohlfing majored in Physical Education, Secondary Education and Exercise and Sport Science. A 2011 Drury graduate, Joe started every one of the 205 possible games played by the Panthers in his illustrious four-year career. This fact contributed to his earning the moniker “Joe Baseball”. A native of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Joe moved immediately from being a starting shortstop at the high school level into becoming the Panthers’ starting shortstop for the next four years. That string began on Feb. 11, 2007. That day the Panthers swept Truman State in a doubleheader and Joe’s consecutive-games-played stretch did not end until May 6, 2010. Between games #1 and #205, Joe carved out one of the best careers in Drury baseball history.
It was unfathomable that the “upstart” Panthers, in their first season, won the 2007 Great Lakes Valley Conference championship and earned a berth in the NCAA-II National Tournament. Understandably, the Panthers were picked to finish last in the GLVC preseason poll. It was their first year in existence and the GLVC had a strong baseball tradition. But the Panthers won the 2007 GLVC championship and qualified for the NCAA-II National Tournament where they played in the North Central Regional Tournament in Akron, Ohio. In his first year, Joe was selected to that All-Region team, was named 2007 GLVC Freshman-of-the-Year and earned second team all-conference honors. The 2007 team finished that year with a 33-24 record and the Panther baseball program, and Joe, were “off and running.”
Probably more than any sport, baseball provides a multitude of stats and averages. To list all of Joe’s honors and statistical accomplishments on one page would be difficult. But some highlights provide evidence of what he meant to the Panther baseball team for four years. As previously stated, he started 205 of 205 games. He helped the Panthers to a four-year record of 112-93, two GLVC tournaments, one national tournament and one GLVC championship. His name is sprinkled throughout the Drury baseball record book. Just a few follow.
Joe Rohlfing was:
- Named to the 2009 and 2010 Midwest Region Gold Glove Teams
- Selected to the 2009 Daktronics All-Midwest Region First Team
- A four-time Great Lakes Valley All-Conference selection
Some of his records include his being ranked:
- #1 all-time in Drury baseball history with a 26-game hitting streak
- #1 all-time in career triples and #4 all-time in career doubles
- #2 all-time in Drury baseball history with 802 career at bats
- #2 all-time in Drury baseball history with 286 career hits
- #2 all-time in Drury baseball history with 178 runs scored
- #2 all-time in Drury baseball history with 554 career assists
- #2 all-time in Drury baseball history with a .384 career on base percentage
- #3 all-time in Drury baseball history with a .357 career batting average
- #3 all-time in Drury baseball history with 135 career runs batted in
- #7 all-time in Drury baseball history with a .479 career slugging percentage
Joe graduated from Drury on May 14, 2011 and four months later began his career as a teacher/coach, accepting a position in the Lee’s Summit School District. After one year he moved to Harrisonville H.S. in 2012 and is now in his fourth year at Harrisonville serving as head baseball coach, head girl’s golf coach and as a physical education teacher. With that in mind, again Mark Stratton summed it up best. “If there is any chance your child could play for Joe, that would be a life-altering event. Joe is a great kid, a great teacher and a great example. Obviously he was a marvelous player and teammate.”
Joe and his wife, Brooke, who were married on July 21, 2012, now reside in Raymore, Missouri.
