Pioneers Beyond the Numbers: Ryan Duva

Pioneer baseball's senior centerfielder Ryan Duva has been a fixture at the top of the lineup throughout his career, putting pressure on opposing pitchers with his keen batting eye and base-stealing ability.

As of April 11, Duva leads the team with a .418 batting average, 33 hits, eight doubles, 12 walks drawn and six stolen bases.

In the dugout, Duva is a vocal leader who is known to keep his teammates relaxed and laughing between games.

Full Name: Ryan Daniel Duva

Nicknames: DJ Duva, Domingo

Major: Health Promotion

Family members: Dan and Kim Duva, brother David Duva (29)

On-Campus Activities: Scootering, Zombies, Stations buffet at Bridgeway Commons, shooting the breeze with Frese, getting swole, semi-mandatory baseball outings.

Favorites:
Athlete: Domingo Ayala of the Domingo Beisbol Academy
Movies: "Semi Pro", "MacGruber", and "21 Jump Street"
TV Show: "American Dad"
Sports team: Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions
Food: Pineapple pizza with red hot sauce
Band/song: 2 Chainz - "I'm Different"
Place on campus: Kendall Murray Field, indoor batting cages, Stations buffet at Bridgeway  
Cartoon Character: Roger the alien and Principal Lewis from American Dad
Sport besides baseball: Football
Superhero: Batman because anybody could be Batman, maybe even me…
Hobby: Protecting the world from the zombie apocalypse while doing my Domingo Ayala impersonation and listening to 2 Chainz or Tyga Pandora radio.
Three words to describe you: Swagasaurus, Impersonator, and Hungry

What is it like being one of the two seniors on this young team?

It's pretty important. It gives me a chance to have a big-time effect on the younger kids and set an example for the years to come for how they should play the game.

What's been your proudest moment in your baseball career?

Preparing this team for this season. I feel like a lot of the guys look up to me, so I try to lead by example with work ethic, keeping my emotions in check and not dwelling on the past so we can be ready for the future.

What are your plans after graduation?

I want to become a strength and conditioning coach. I am also going to be getting my certification for personal training over the summer so I can do that on the side as I'm getting ready to be a coach.

Who are your inspirations in sports and school?

I get a lot of inspiration from my older brother, he played baseball at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. I look to see how he did it and I try to make my family and my teammates proud.

What's something most people don't know about you?

I have been the oldest one on my college baseball team since I was a freshman.