Horan Breaks Former Babysitter's RBI Record

Article reprinted courtesy of Fargo Forum and reporter Eric Peterson.

MOORHEAD—Thomas Horan recently broke his former babysitter's record for career RBIs for the Concordia Cobbers baseball program.

Horan had three RBIs in an 11-5 victory against Minnesota-Morris last week in nonconference play at Bucky Burgau Field.

That gave Horan 122 RBIs for his Concordia career, which started in 2020. He surpassed Ryan Hebrink, a former two-sport standout for the Cobbers. Hebrink (2001-04) had 119 RBIs during his baseball career. In addition, Hebrink played quarterback for Concordia from 2000 to 2003, finishing his career third overall on the program's career total yardage list.

Not only did Hebrink and his now wife Brittany (Baldry) Hebrink babysit both Thomas and his older sister Meghan Horan, Thomas was 3 years old when he was a ring bearer in the couple's wedding. Meghan, 6 years old at the time, was the flower girl. The Hebrinks got married in the summer of 2004.

"It's really cool," said Cobbers head football coach Terry Horan, who is Thomas' and Meghan's father, and also was Hebrink's football coach at Concordia. "Tommy probably wouldn't remember this, but he idolized Ryan Hebrink."

Thomas passed the likes of Hebrink and former Cobbers player and head coach Chris Coste (110 RBIs from 1993-95) to climb to the top of the career list.

"It's truly an honor to pass him, and I know he's pretty close to my dad," Thomas said of Hebrink. "It's amazing for that. ... It's a crazy experience."

Thomas has played in a program record 162 career games for the Cobbers. He's in his sixth season in the program as COVID-19 effective to early part of his career allowing for extra eligibility. Thomas has 180 career hits, nearing that program record. Andy Gravdahl (2018-2023) has 197 hits for the Cobbers.

Thomas was tied with Hebrink for career RBIs heading into last Wednesday's game against Minnesota-Morris. In the sixth inning drove in the record-breaking run on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded and one out.

"I ran extremely hard to beat out the double play so the (RBI) would count and I did," Thomas said. "Right then and there I knew I broke it and it felt great, but then I was able to relax and have fun after that."

His next at-bat in the seventh inning was a two-run double.

"I wish it was (that) one," Thomas said with a laugh.

After Thomas surpassed Hebrink, it didn't take long for Terry to hear from his former starting quarterback.

"One of the first people to reach out to me that night was Ryan Hebrink," Terry said. "Ryan is salt of the earth, he was so overjoyed and happy."

The Cobbers are 8-8 overall and 0-2 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. They are slated to next play at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at Bethel for a MIAC doubleheader. Thomas is batting .255 with five doubles, one triple and 18 RBIs through 16 games.

"For Tommy, he always wants to be in that moment and wants to be the hero in those situations," said Cobbers head coach Anthony Renz. "I think driving in runs is as much a mentality thing as much as it is a talent thing. He's always prepared mentally to have to most pressure on him and be in that spot. ... He lets his natural ability shine through in those situations."

Thomas also excels in the field as the team's starting shortstop and "unequivocal leader," Renz added.

"He never takes his at-bats into the field," Renz said. "He understands the offensive side of the game and the defensive side of the game. ... There isn't a practice rep that isn't taken at absolute game speed and mentality."