A two-time All-NESCAC First Team selection and the conference’s 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, Bates baseball center fielder and captain Christian Beal shined on and off the field during his time as a Bobcat. 
 
Beal provided an immediate spark from the first day he arrived on campus in 2018-19 after transferring from Miami University. 
 
In 2019, Beal hit .370 in his first year at Bates and the baseball team went 9-3 in NESCAC play, setting a program record for conference wins in one season.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on the next two seasons for Bates, as the Bobcats played a combined 17 games in 2020 and 2021. Nevertheless, Beal kept an upbeat attitude.
 
“The whole world changed in the matter of the past year,” Beal said. “I've enjoyed being at Bates during these unprecedented times with my coaches and teammates. I wouldn't want to go through this with anyone else.” 
 
Beal was one of the college’s Senior Scholar award winners, graduating with a 3.52 GPA and majoring in politics. 
 
“It's the way I was raised,” Beal said. “My mom always put academics first and baseball was always second. Get the homework done and then go hit and then you eat dinner.”  
 
Beal will play for the University of Richmond at the Division I level next season. 
 
“I’m not nervous,” Beal said. “I’m looking forward to playing my style of baseball and getting the chance to keep playing the sport I love.”