By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
Lincoln Riley just wanted a place to work before he sets off on his biggest college baseball journey.
His former manager with the Burlington Bees had a better idea.
So Riley, who played for the Bees in their first two seasons in the Prospect League, is back for the last couple of weeks.
“It’s good to be back, get some reps in, some (at bats), see the ball off the bat again,” said Riley, an outfielder from Marion, Iowa, who will play his final year of NCAA Division I eligibility this season at Arkansas. “These guys here are pretty cool. It’s nice to be back here in Burlington.”
Burlington, and center field at Community Field, are familiar places for Riley. He played two seasons at Southeastern Community College then played with the Bees while attending Eastern Illinois.
Riley hit .307 at Eastern Illinois, leading the Panthers to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament title and a spot in the NCAA tournament. Eastern Illinois was eliminated in its two games in the Vanderbilt Regional, but getting to experience Southeastern Conference baseball was something he enjoyed.
“I thought it was a really good way to go out,” said Riley, who hit .375 in the two tournament games and was named to the all-regional team. “It was a really good year, historically, for EIU, too. So I thought maybe that was a good way to go out, but then going to the Vandy Regional, that was a blast.’
It was a lot of fun. It was a good experience. Sold-out crowd under the lights. Playoff baseball. You can’t beat that.”
Riley visited three Division I schools — Iowa, Gonzaga, and Arkansas.
“It was pretty stressful,” Riley said. “And I know for coaches, it’s pretty stressful with all of this transfer portal stuff. But at the same time, it was fun, too. I never got to go on a lot of visits when I was in high school.
“I was actually going to hang it up. I wasn’t going to play another year. Then Arkansas called, and I figured it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So I took advantage of that.”
Playing for one of the best programs in the SEC — Arkansas also played in the NCAA tournament — was the biggest selling point.
“I’m looking forward to being around future professional baseball players and surrounded by facilities that are going to develop you and make you a better baseball player — just the whole environment,” he said. “Honestly, they’ve got the best fans in the country, 13,000 fans, something like that. So I’m excited to see what they all have.”
One of the first people Riley called with the news was Bees manager Owen Oreskovich. Riley was working out at home, but wanted something more.
“He’s like, ‘What do you think about me coming down and just like taking (batting practice), fly balls, working out?’” Oreskovich said. “I was like, ‘How about you play some games because it’s free?’”
“It was kind of just me getting work in by myself. It was kind of tough,” Riley said. “So I called up O, asked him if I could get some work in before heading (to Arkansas). Luckily, O and I have a great relationship, and he’s like, ‘Heck yeah, come on down.’”
Riley hit .246 in 18 games with the Bees last season after hitting .237 in 51 games in 2021.
Oreskovich knows what he brings to the team.
“It’s nice to know he’s roaming around center field,” Oreskovich said. “And being very good at bat in the leadoff spot. He’s not going to look stupid up there.
“He’s a great baseball player, and an even better dude. Nobody works harder than that kid.”
Riley is staying with his host family for the last two seasons — Matt and Anika McVey.
“I called them to tell them I was coming and if there was a family that had a spot, and they said, ‘Nope, you’re staying with us,’” Riley said.
Riley has played in two games for the Bees, with one hit in six at-bats. He’ll be back with the team for most of the final week of the regular season.
“I just kind of want to get back into routine, kind of get acclimated to live arms and seeing the ball off the bat, and just being around the guys again, really,” Riley said. “Just continue to have fun. Because you don’t know when it’s going to be (the end).”
Photo: Lincoln Riley is back with the Burlington Bees for the final two weeks of the regular season before heading to Arkansas. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
Baseball at The Hive 