Eastern Illinois University Athletics

2009: Zalders played in seven games and started the Illinois College contest… connected for a pinch hit homer in his first EIU at-bat in the rubber game win at UT Martin… doubled and scored and knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly against Illinois College… batted a season-high three times in the home win against Saint Louis, catching the final four innings… was also behind the plate for the final three innings of the rubber game of the Jacksonville State series.

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Zalders was a two-year starter at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Ill.

HIGH SCHOOL: He was a four-year letter-winner, three at the varsity level, for coach Chris Neff… also lettered in soccer, cross country and lacrosse… St. Louis Post-Dispatch First Team All-Conference and Athlete of the Week honoree… Suburban South and West Conference Tournament MVP… two-time team captain as an upperclassman… also was a team captain in soccer… helped lead WGHS to a conference championship his senior year… New Baden wooden bat tournament champs his junior year… also played for the Belleville Silver Bullets summer team.

PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was hitting a walk-off double with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift his team to a conference championship… his father has been a major influence on his sports career because "he introduced me to sports and taught me everything I know. He pushed me to succeed without taking the enjoyment out of sports"… also most admires his father because "he was my first coach"… his father played baseball at Southeast Missouri State and his grandfather Victor played baseball for the U.S. Army… son of Don Zalders and Mike and Jane Gallagher… MAJOR: Accounting.