When the Lourdes baseball team gathers for breakfast at the Canadian Honker on Saturday game days, it's more than just a meal—it's the start of a new tradition. The idea came from senior captain and two-way standout Easton Gasner, and his teammates couldn't have been more eager to join in.
"The first time we did it was really special," said senior centerfielder Nolan Rolih, who is set to play Division I baseball at the University of Minnesota in 2027. "We had a freezing cold game later that day, but after spending an hour or two with your boys at breakfast, the cold didn't feel so bad. It just felt right. So we kept it going."
Gasner has been a cornerstone for the Eagles both on and off the field. After earning a spot on the 2025 Post Bulletin All-Area Baseball Team as a junior—a season Lourdes head coach Dave Jenson called his "breakout"—Gasner has only continued to elevate his game.
Through 14 games this season, he's batting .333 with two doubles, 10 RBIs, seven runs scored, and a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen bases. On the mound, he's been just as impressive: a 3-2 record with a 2.26 ERA over 31 innings, allowing only 10 earned runs and three walks while striking out 28 batters.
Gasner's baseball journey started at age 4 with T-ball, followed by years with the Rochester Youth Baseball Association. By his freshman year, he had earned a varsity spot—a moment that marked the beginning of serious growth.
"I think I've learned to hit the ball a lot better," Gasner said with a smile. "Credit to the coaching staff for that."
While Gasner won't be playing college baseball, he's headed to Creighton University to study neuroscience on a pre-med track—a path inspired by his mother, a nurse. Still, he's keeping the door open: if a manager position opens up with the Bluejays baseball team, he'd love to stay involved.
He stays in touch with former Lourdes star and 2025 PB All-Area Player of the Year Nick Bowron, now a freshman catcher at Creighton. Gasner credits Bowron and 2023 graduate Isaac Wenszell as major influences on his career.
"I look up to those guys to keep working hard and being my best every day," Gasner said.
After nearly 15 years in the game, Gasner knows what he'll miss most. "Being around the guys, for sure," he said. And with a tradition like Saturday morning breakfast, it's easy to see why.