There are many ways for collegiate student-athletes to spend the summer: finding a league to compete in to continue honing their skills, completing an internship that will prepare them for their future career, or simply enjoying their summer before returning to school.
 
For Kanen Kreafle, a rising senior on the St. Olaf College baseball team, this summer offered him the chance to do all three.
 
After a breakout junior season where he collected All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) honors while hitting .344 with 10 doubles, five home runs, 22 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 39 games, Kreafle earned a roster spot with the Olney Cropdusters of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. The invite allowed Kreafle, a Potomac, Md. native, to play against some of the best college players in the DMV area.
 
Despite being one of just six NCAA Division III student-athletes on the team, Kreafle held his own, hitting .268 with a .434 on-base percentage while helping the Cropdusters to the regular-season title and their first-ever league championship with a 2-1 series win over the four-time defending champion Bethesda Big Train. With a 40-game season packed into the months of June and July, Kreafle was able to improve his skills in a competitive environment.
 
"Playing for the Cropdusters helped me improve tremendously as a player," he said. "We had a very involved coaching staff that genuinely cared about our development and put a lot of time into helping us get better. I think I made a lot of physical improvements in both my swing and fielding, but I also learned a lot about how to mentally approach different parts of the game and put myself in the best position to succeed."
 
Beyond the technical improvements he made, Kreafle noted he learned some intangible lessons about team culture and chemistry that he hopes to bring back to the Hill.
 
"More than anything, I learned how much a team's chemistry and culture can impact its success," he said. "We had a group of guys from all over the country who came together really quickly, and it made the summer that much more enjoyable. Nobody really cared what division someone played in or where they came from. Everyone was there to compete, get better, and help the team win. Being able to have that kind of success while also having so much fun with the team is something I'll remember for a long time."
 
As an organization, the Cropdusters put a strong emphasis on giving back to the community, which allowed Kreafle the chance to make an impact in his native DMV. He took part in a Miracle League game, where players were paired up with children with disabilities while getting a chance to play baseball, and a kids camp for youth in the local community.
 
"We weren't just there to play baseball," Kreafle said of his experience. "We were encouraged to get involved, meet people in the community, and be a part of making the Cropdusters something that the people of Olney could be proud of."
 
With the strong emphasis on being part of the local community, the Cropdusters also strived to make the fan experience as fun as possible. The team has traditions like doing the "Cotton Eye Joe" dance every fifth inning, having the kids run the bases - or "Dust the Bases" - and hosting themed nights to keep the games entertaining for everyone.
 
"My favorite was definitely the Fourth of July game," Kreafle said. "It felt like all of Olney was there watching the game, and we had a big fireworks show after the game. It was a super special moment to spend with teammates and to see how much the community supported the team as well."
 
The emphasis on making an impact on the local community and keeping baseball fun for everyone really hit home with Kreafle.
 
"When you're at school and baseball starts, it can start to feel like an obligation or a job, and it can be hard to remember sometimes that baseball is a game," he said. "Although we were playing at a high level, I always felt like it was fun and there wasn't a lot of pressure on us, which I think helped us succeed. Especially going into my final year playing at St. Olaf, I really want to enjoy the experience and the journey as much as I can."
 
After the Cropdusters' season wrapped up, Kreafle, who hopes to work in the sports business industry after graduation, dove into an internship working with the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) team, specifically assisting with marketing and planning for the 2027 KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. He was able to work on marketing strategies and ticketing and packaging plans, among other preparations for the event.
 
"(The internship) was a really cool opportunity to get experience on the business side of sports," Kreafle said. "Most of my experiences in sports have been as an athlete, so getting to see everything that goes into putting on a major sporting event from the other side was really valuable."
 
Between his playing experience with the Cropdusters and his internship, Kreafle was able to prepare for his senior season at St. Olaf and ready himself for a career down the road.
 
"This summer gave me an opportunity to grow as a player while also getting a better understanding of the work I want to do after college," he said. "I am excited to take the skills and experiences I have gained into my senior year and beyond my playing career."