LEGION BASEBALL: Schneider: Belting it on the mound, as well as the mic

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

When Ryan Schneider walked out on a baseball field in Glendale, Ariz., years ago, you can understand why he might have been a little nervous.

Screw up, people are going to notice.

Make an error, there’s a lot more eyes on you than normal.

He didn’t.

He belted it out of the park.

And he wasn’t even playing that day.

On that day in 2018, Schneider sang the national anthem at a Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training game in Glendale, one of five times the Coeur d’Alene High graduate had performed for the club at their spring training home.

“The first time I did it I was 14 years old, and the last time I was 17,” Schneider said. “I sent them an email with a video of me singing and they really liked it. They asked me to come sing for them, and I said, ‘all right’ and did it.”

As for that first time …

“I was freaking out a little bit,” Schneider said. “I’ve done it five times now, so I’m a lot more comfortable with it now.

“It was like nothing I’ve ever done,” Schneider said. “I was just looking around the stadium and seeing 8,000 people around you, it was a little nerve wracking. If you mess up during the national anthem, it’s not a good thing. You kind of have to be perfect, and each time I’ve done it, I’ve been perfect.”

Schneider, a pitcher/first baseman for the Coeur d'Alene Class AA American Legion baseball team, is also a diehard Dodgers fan.

“Getting to sing for them and getting to meet some of the players, it’s been a cool experience,” Schneider said. “I got to meet Cody Bellinger, who is my favorite player. It’s been awesome.”

Schneider’s next stop, once the Legion baseball season ends, will be Nashville, Tenn., where he’s signed to play baseball at Division I Belmont.

His major will be commercial music.

“I’m going there on a baseball scholarship, but my major is the business side of music and all that stuff. I’m looking forward to that, because it’s one of the top music schools in the world. I think I’m going to have a lot of fun down there.”

And why not Music City for an aspiring singer?

“There were some other schools I was looking at,” Schneider said. “But all in all, with the singing and being in Nashville and the baseball there, it was the perfect fit for me. Everything just kind of worked out, and I really think God had a huge part in that. It was definitely really cool that it worked out that way and I get to do the two things I love to do.”

Schneider did competition drama all four years at Coeur d’Alene High and performed in musical productions in the area since he was 9.

“Trying to balance two passions that take a lot of time has always been tricky for him,” Amy Schnieder, Ryan’s mom said. “But he has always worked at it. We are so excited that he gets to continue doing the two things he loves in college. We know he’ll be busy and overwhelmed at times, but we are so proud of him for going after his dreams. He has a big cheering section of family and friends who love him so much and are cheering for him every step of the way.”

Schneider, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound left-hander from Coeur d'Alene High, was recruited by Belmont to pitch. He was an all-Inland Empire League selection as an infielder as a senior.

“It’s been a great season,” Schneider said. “I’ve really enjoyed my high school and had an amazing season with Coeur d’Alene. It was probably one of my most favorite seasons. This summer, being out with the boys, and we’re winning so much, it’s been amazing. It’s so fun.”

Schneider is batting .449 this season for the Lumbermen with 40 hits, six doubles, five triples, one home run and 40 runs batted in. On the mound, he’s 5-1 with a 2.52 earned run average in 33 ⅓ innings.

“It’s my last year hitting, but I’ve been hitting the ball so well,” Schneider said. “I’m just going to try to keep that going into the state tournament. Playing with these guys is a lot of fun, and I love playing for coach (Darren) Taylor. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”

Coeur d’Alene (31-9) opens the state class AA tournament on Friday at noon PDT against Blackfoot (2-18) at Rodeo Park in Nampa. The Lums claimed four tournament titles in the regular season, with an appearance in the semifinals of the fifth.

Coeur d’Alene finished 28-10 in Taylor’s first year as coach last season. Taylor was a player on the only Lumbermen team to qualify for regionals, in 1979.

The state champion advances to the Northwest Regional tournament Aug. 3-7 in Gillette, Wyo.

The Idaho Falls Bandits have won the last two American Legion World Series championships (2021, 2019; there was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19).

Schneider was injured at the start of last season for the Lums.

“From the first time I met him until now, he’s a different human being,” Taylor said. “He was coming off an injury and was really tentative with everything he was doing as far as pitching and hitting. But this year, what an eye-opener. He’s the best athlete in the Northwest. He’s just been phenomenal with one big hit right after another and one great pitching performance after another. He’s been fun to watch.”

The Lums are seeking their first state title.

“He’s a good coach,” said Schneider of Taylor. “He knows how to talk to his players and how to run a good practice. We’re pretty close. Coach Taylor is someone that I’d go hit the links with and is really a great guy. My pitching coach, coach (Andy) Beaudry is one of my favorite guys as well. He’s just an amazing coach and Cris (Lums assistant coach Mike Criswell), he’s the best and hilarious. All of these guys are just awesome.”

If it wasn’t for being all-in on baseball, he’d be all-in on getting his musical career going.

“If it wasn’t for baseball, I’d be focusing on music and trying to get seen and get my music out there,” Schneider said. “When I get to Belmont and start learning to do all that music stuff, maybe writing some songs of my own and going to learn the piano while I’m down there, which I’m excited about. I’ve never played the piano, so it’s something I’m looking forward to doing.”

But if Schneider is able to continue his playing career, he’d welcome the chance past college.

“My biggest dream is to get drafted in the MLB,” Schneider said. “It’s been my dream since I was a little kid, and is definitely No. 1 on my list. But you know, singing is also a huge part of my life, so we’ll have to see what works out and what doesn’t.”

Sometimes in the middle of games, if you listen hard enough, you might hear Schneider practicing his singing.

“There’s times where I’ll be in the outfield or first base and I’ll be singing a song to keep it loose,” Schneider said. “The Lewiston guys, they love it when I sing and are always asking me to sing a song for them. They’re a good group of guys. It’s always fun to get to talk to those guys and get to play against them. It’s fun to be able to do a couple of things that are a little out of the ordinary. A singing baseball player. I don’t think there’s a lot of those in the world.”

“I’ve heard him sing, and he’s really good,” Taylor said. “He’s a pretty talented kid.”

Schneider added that he’s not taking a moment this week for granted when it comes to playing his final innings of baseball with his friends.

“Since it’s my last year here, and my last two games were on this field (Thorco Field in Coeur d’Alene) the other night, it’s kind of surreal,” Schneider said. “I pitched and did really well, and that was a cool feeling in my final game here. It’s going to be weird being on the field and playing with these guys for the last time. You’re not going to get a lot of things like this at the next level because it’s going to be more work and a lot more lifting during your down time.”

But his goals remain the same, whether that’s on the baseball field or the stage.

“My goal is to do well at Belmont and see what happens from there,” Schneider said. “The coaches there are amazing. They were a big reason why I chose to go there. The way they talked about it, the brotherhood and how close everyone on the team was, I’m kind of big on that kind of stuff. That was a pretty good reason I chose to go there, and all the guys seemed pretty cool. When I went on my official visit, everyone was really nice and showed us what it was like to live in Nashville.”

With bright lights, not just on the baseball field.

“I love it,” Schneider said. “It’s really fun and there’s always something to do down there.”

Whether that’s on a mound or a stage nearby.