Senior Rob Raux’s swing is fluid. His hands move quickly through the zone, and when aluminum meets horsehide, the defense can only turn and watch as the ball disappears over the left field fence.

The captain is in the midst of his best season, leading the Blue and Gold with career high six home runs.

Raux said his work with Head Coach George Valesente has been instrumental in his success at the plate.

“Coach has got me changing little things here and there to make it better,” Raux said. “It’s all been coming together this year. We’ve all been swinging pretty well.”

As captain this season, Raux said he prefers to lead by example. He has a quiet presence about him but he doesn’t allow that to make him fade into the background. Raux is always leading the way for his teammates, making sacrifices for the team’s benefit and trying to go about leading the team the right way.

With junior catcher Drew Ash returning from injury this season, Raux, a natural catcher, had to transition to the outfield. Raux said it was challenging but he was willing to give it a try to help the team.

“I definitely feel most comfortable catching; it’s what I’ve been doing my whole life,” Raux said. “But playing outfield allows Drew to catch and keeps our lineup strong, so I do whatever I have to do.”

Raux’s father, Bob, played baseball for Valesente when he attended the college. After Bob graduated, the two families stayed close and Valesente has known Rob since he was four years old. Valesente has seen Raux grow into one of the best captains South Hill has seen.

“Usually what happens when you have a quality ballplayer, players look up to them automatically because they’re so good,” Valesente said. “I think [he is looked up to] this year more than ever because he’s come out with his leadership and how he talks to players on the field and off.”

Raux is well respected by his teammates and coaches, but his close friends hold him in high esteem as well. A large contingent of Raux’s roommates and friends, who are staples at every home game, set up a banner that reads “The Raux Crew” in gold letters on a blue background and stake out a position along the right field line to barbecue and cheer on Raux and the rest of the team.

Though the sign reads “Raux Crew,” they also have senior Josh Smith’s No. 7 and assistant coach and last season’s captain Jeremy Peters ’07’s No. 6 on the sign as well.

Raux Crew member and Raux’s roommate senior Jake Spiak described Raux as a typical college student, but also someone with an immense dedication to his team.

“He plays guitar all the time and is a relaxed kind of kid,” Spiak said. “He loves ‘Family Guy’ and is a real funny kid once you get to know him.”

Spiak said the Raux Crew even has its own shrine in their living room. After Raux’s home run against the University of Rochester on April 22, Raux Crew member senior Scott Lieber retrieved the ball and had the whole crew sign it.

“We weren’t sure how [Valesente] was going to react when we asked if we could keep the ball,” Spiak said. “It’s hanging up right in our living room … It’s up in our house like a little shrine and a dedication to it all.”

Though the Raux Crew likes to be loud, Raux remains a quiet leader. He always tries to do things the right way and sticks to his word — the mark of a good captain.

“If I say I’m going to do something or if I tell someone to do something, I better make sure I do it myself,” Raux said.