July 14, 2006

South Orange, NJ (CSTV U-WIRE) -- It's about time for the clock to strike midnight on Brandon Cohen's career as a Pirate.

The wide-eyed Cohen that drove through Seton Hall's main gate in the fall of 2002 is quite a different man with four years under his belt.

"I was extremely nervous as a freshman," Cohen said. "I felt like I had to live up to the expectations of being drafted out of high school."

Now, using the word "nervous" to describe Cohen could not be further from the truth. As the only senior on the team this season, Cohen has had to step into a new role, one as a leader.

"You can just see he has had the most experience," sophomore tri-captain Dan McDonald said. "His focus level is real high, he knows exactly what he has to do before the game, you can just tell his senior leadership, and it's unbelievable."

With no one left to teach him the ropes, this season has been different. As one of the tri-captains, along with McDonald and junior Mike Morano, he has been given the responsibility to set examples for the highly freshmen-sophomore laden Pirate clubhouse.

"I find myself a lot of the time being the teacher and trying to give these guys good baseball lessons," Cohen said.

Freshman hurler Corey Young has seen Cohen as a role model ever since he walked on to campus.

"Brandon has the leadership that I have never seen before," Young said. "He is one of a kind; ever since the beginning of the season he has treated me like a little brother."

McDonald and Young have described Cohen as an on the field type of leader. Cohen goes about his business everyday, without asking questions.

"He's the captain of captains," McDonald said. "I even look up to him; he is almost like a big brother. He is a big role model to all of us, we all look up to him and you can tell."

Young marveled at the maturity Cohen shows on the field.

"The way he goes about himself, his maturity on the field has taught me a lot," Young said. "When I see Brandon's doing bad, he doesn't show it at all. If he strikes out, he comes right back to the dugout, puts his bat down and that's it."

Head Coach Rob Sheppard has also taken notice to the type of leader Cohen has matured into during his tenure at the Hall.

"Brandon is a hard worker," Sheppard said. "The best thing about Brandon, and a lot of his teammates see, is that he has an incredible work ethic, he goes above and beyond what the coaches ask him and he works his tail off."

Not only is he leaving his mark with his teammates, he is leading with his bat.

Cohen leads the team in multiple offensive categories including home runs and RBIs, which both are already career highs.

Once he leaves the Hall, he will be able to look back on his college days with reverence.

"I am sure (I will miss it) a lot more than I think I will now," Cohen said. "I consider myself very fortunate to play at the college level first of all."

Even with a few weeks left in his career, he has already started to reflect on the past four years

"You go to ballparks and you are like this is my last time playing this team, it hits you at different points in the season, certain guys and games stick out in my mind," Cohen said.

Now that it is almost time for Cohen to lace up at Owen T. Carroll field for the last time, he has had to start thinking about life after Seton Hall. Baseball has been "his life for four years," so it is fairly obvious what his post-graduation dreams consist of.

"Hopefully I'll get a shot at the next level," Cohen said. "I just want a shot; I'll take baseball as far as I can go."

However, if Cohen's dreams don't materialize, he has plenty of backup plans. As a criminal justice major that plans on finishing up his degree in the fall, Cohen also has aspirations of a career in law enforcement. In addition, Cohen would be interested in coaching baseball if the chance occurs.

According to Sheppard, Cohen has a bright future with whatever he chooses.

"Hopefully Brandon gets a chance," Sheppard said. "He's worked hard his whole career for that opportunity, that's what he's looking for. Brandon will be successful in whatever he does, based on his work ethic and his desire."

Brett Hertel can be reached at hertelbr@shu.edu.

(C) 2006 The Setonian via CSTV U-WIRE