Squires Takes Special Pride in Wearing Kentucky Uniform

Every player on the 2017 Kentucky baseball team took a great deal of pride in the Wildcats’ unprecedented success. However, Troy Squires may have taken even more pride than most in the Wildcats’ historic season because of his Kentucky roots.

Now a senior catcher, the native of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, knows how special it is to wear the blue and white.

“I take an immense amount of pride in it,” Squires said. “Representing Kentucky is something I’ve always wanted to do. When you’ve got that state across your chest, there’s a different sense of urgency you feel about your game.”

As a junior last season, Squires played in 49 games, with 48 starts behind the plate. He hit .305 with a .427 on-base percentage. Squires hit one homer, 10 doubles and drove in 26 runs. He continues to work on his offensive game.

“Sticking to some of the same drills that I did when I had success,” Squires said. “Focusing on drills I feel comfortable with, and working with Coach Gwill (Todd Guilliams).”
Squires also was a huge part of the success of the 2017 Wildcats’ pitching staff, and he has marveled at the growth of the staff.

“They’ve really bought into what Coach (Nick Mingione) and Coach (Jim) Belanger have really instilled in them. It’s been fun to see their growth and development, not only as pitchers but as people. Even the new guys have stepped in and they’re buying into it. It’s really fun to watch and it’s really fun to catch those guys.”

Last season, the Wildcats’ staff had a 3.85 team ERA, down from 3.97 in 2016. Kentucky pitchers struck out 583 batters in 2017, up considerably from 418 in 2016.

Squires and Kole Cottam make up Kentucky’s catching duo, and Mingione loves having those two stalwarts behind the dish.

“We have two good a catchers as anybody in the country,” Mingione said. “I feel confident about that.”

Squires and Cottam have become close both on and off the field.

“We have a great relationship,” Squires said of Cottam. “Our lockers are next to each other. We talk about pitchers, we talk about life, we talk about everything. Our relationship is great. We like working with each other and playing with each other, we’re also good friends.”

As for his Kentucky roots, Squires is proud of it and tries to instill it in his teammates, no matter where their hometowns might be.

“They know who is from Kentucky and who is not. Ultimately, we’re playing for that team across the front of the shirt.”

It’s that kind of state pride that helps make Squires such a key cog for the UK baseball team.