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After more than a decade of battling Forest Lake as a member of the St. Francis Saints, leftfielder Nick Bolin is leading the Brewers in several offensive categories.
(Photo by Clint Riese)
Longtime Brewers rival Nick Bolin sparking offense from atop lineup
Clint Riese
Sports Editor
Every gameday for the last few seasons, Nick Bolin grabbed his glove and drove 30 miles from Forest Lake to suit up for the St. Francis Saints.
But this year, the veteran Metro Minny League leftfielder needs only to walk across the street from his house to Schumacher Field.
With rising gas prices and three young daughters at home in Forest Lake, Bolin ended his 11-year run with his hometown team to join the Brewers this year.
“It’s a big rivalry,” he says. “I went from one side to the other.”
It took awhile for the new acquisition to get comfortable in Brewer black and white, but the transition was eased by pre-existing relationships with many of his teammates.
“I’ve played against Adam [Gallatin], all those guys for seven, eight years, so they knew [about me],” Bolin says. “Coming from a rival, they were kind of feeling me out from the beginnning, and likewise, too. I was just trying to fit in.”
Gallatin, one of the Brewers’ player-coaches, was among those wary of how a former Saint would mesh in the clubhouse.
“We’ve had some intense games [against St. Francis], so I was a little skeptical at first when Nick asked to play with us, but he’s fit in really well.”
A seamless move to the top of the Forest Lake lineup is a main reason that #5 has become just another one of the guys.
Bolin has sparked the offense, leading the Brewers in runs, hits and stolen bases.
“I’m satisfied,” the Golden Valley sheet metal worker says. “My goal is always to get on base and run around like crazy and score as many runs as I can, because I’m not going to hit home runs.”
Gallatin credits Bolin’s attitude and experience for helping to set the tone for a young roster.
“He’s a gamer,” the 12-year Brewer vet says. “He shows up every day and plays hard. He’s been a great addition to our team.”
Bolin has even boosted ticket sales, attracting fellow parents of his oldest daughter’s U12 traveling softball team, which he will help coach this fall.
“The support has been great,” he says. “We’re getting more and more fans. It’s fun.”
Bolin’s old teammates greeted him with some good-natured ribbing in a May matchup, but he responded with three hits, two runs, two stolen bases and an RBI in an 11-0 Brewers win.
Now, Bolin looks forward to a possible rematch in the playoffs, where he expects the Brewers to claim the regional title and make a run at state.
No matter how this season ends, he plans to continue to patrol left field next summer.
“I’ll be back,” he says. “I’m gonna play until I can’t.”
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