Thomas Seaberg struggles with blurry vision in his right eye.

The Totino-Grace senior has had multiple surgeries and received steroid shots in his eyes to combat the noncancerous tumors causing the vision problems.

“It’s a tough process that just takes some time,” said Seaberg, who was unable to play baseball in the fall. “My eyes are still pretty blurry, but I just try and help my team any way I can.”

Finding precision in baseball and helping his team are tasks Seaberg has had to work extremely hard, and it showed in the Eagles’ 6-3 victory over Benilde-St. Margaret’s on Saturday at Totino-Grace High School. 

Seaberg allowed just one hit and one walk in pitching 2 ⅓ innings in relief to preserve the victory. He also had his team’s only extra-base hit, a line-drive double to left field in the fifth inning.

“He is a senior leader who had a great year last year and stepped up,” Eagles coach Mike Smith said. 

Seaberg said was mainly a pitcher and infielder for Totino-Grace’s junior varsity team last season, but will see playing time primarily as a relief pitcher this year.

“It felt good to get some innings today,” he added. 

As for the issues with his eyes, they are hard for most people to see. 

“You wouldn’t really know it,” Smith said. “He’s overcoming some big obstacles and he has some teammates who are here for him.”

Fellow senior Josh Hartwig said baseball practice is like playing with friends and the team supports Seaberg.

“I know he has a big problem, but he’s been tough through it and doesn’t complain at all,” said Hartwig, who was 1-for-2 with a run scored against Benilde-St. Margaret's. “From the hit today and his pitching, I think he’s doing great.”

Senior Thomas Seaberg pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to close out Totino-Grace’s 6-3 win over Benilde-St. Margaret’s in a nonconference game Saturday at Totino-Grace High School.

Seaberg, who also hit a double, allowed one hit and one walk in earning the save, while senior Jack Hemsath pitched four innings and allowed only two hits to earn the victory for the Eagles (2-0).

Seniors Ben Mezzenga and Josh Hartwig each finished 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored.

Mezzenga reached base in the first inning after drawing a walk. He stole second and crossed home on two Benilde-St. Margaret’s errors to give Totino-Grace an early 1-0 lead.

Hartwig also prevented a run in the fourth inning with a key catch in right field. 

Benilde-St. Margaret’s capitalized on an Eagles’ pitching change in the top of the fifth inning to mount a comeback, scoring three runs - including one on junior Dylan Hewitt’s RBI double - and close the score to 4-3.  

Seaburg, however, stepped in to end the rally and close the door on the Red Knights (2-1).

Senior Connor Day took the loss. He gave up no hits but walked nine and finished with three earned runs in pitching two innings. Junior Trebor Eberle allowed four hits and two runs in pitching the final four innings for Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

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