Gunnar Meland is a threat on the playing field –both the baseball and football fields actually. But it is baseball the Pine Bush senior is focusing on when he graduates in 2021 and will play for Division I Siena.
Gunnar committed to Siena back in September and had a ceremonial signing at Pine Bush High School last week with family, coaches and administrators.
Pine Bush varsity baseball coach Matt Boffalo said he’s known Gunnar since he was in elementary school. He is thrilled to see how he’s grown as a player over the years.
“He started varsity for us as a sophomore and led the team in hitting,” said Boffalo, a true supporter of Gunnar. “He’s a tremendous kid. A good family, great kid.”
His parents, Shannon and John Meland, were on hand for the signing. His brother, Haakon, plays Division I baseball at Coastal Alabama.
Gunnar was a Varsity 845 first team outfielder in 2019 as a sophomore, when he led the team with a .424 batting average. He also had 17 RBIs in his first varsity season.
On the football field, Gunnar was also named a Varsity 845 first team running back in the fall of 2019. He ran for 1,445 yards and scored 22 touchdowns that season. He won’t be hitting the gridiron again but that’s just fine with him. He told the Times Herald-Record that although he had interest from several Division III schools to play football, he had no interest. It was all baseball for him.
COVID-19 took away his junior baseball season but that didn’t keep him down. Boffalo said Gunnar has worked hard staying in shape and working out throughout the pandemic. And it’s paid off.
Gunnar said he’s had many memorable moments playing for Pine Bush but the most memorable was when they beat Monroe-Woodbury in the section semi-finals back in 2019. The Bushmen were underdogs but they pulled out a huge win. Of course, he is hoping to have a senior season in the spring.
Whatever the case, he will be bringing his talents on the diamond to Siena after he graduates.
“As a coach, this is what you want,” said Boffalo. “You want your players to move on to the next level, both academically and on the field. I’m proud of him.”