Turns out he's interested in one of our infielders. A kid who never started until this year, his senior year. Now to be fair, the previous guy in his position is the starting SS at USC as a freshman, but I don't think I would have predicted that this year's infielder would be as good as he is as a senior...when he was a freshman.
As a freshman, smallish...not the greatest hitter. Moved pretty well. Lost his starting job halfway through the year on the freshman team. Kept fighting, played in the summer. Played JV as as sophomore and later that summer on a team that won the Colt WS (note, that isn't exactly 'travel ball'). Was used as a defensive replacement as a junior on varsity. Didn't get many ABs. And over time he grew.
Now he's the best infielder I've seen this year. Made a play at SS last night that is the best HS infield play I've seen in a while...deep, DEEP in the hole, backhanded, hosed it to 1B, bang-bang...out! The second best infield play I've seen this year was in our first game...by him too, and it saved us from losing the game. And...he's hitting leadoff too...stealing bases, hitting, droppin' bunts and just plain gettin' it done!
How did the coach from the other coast find out about him? Well, there are a few links. The coach played HS ball in our area, the college team he coaches team just played out here for a couple of series, this infielder has a GREAT HS coach who is happy to talk to college coaches about his players...and a local JC coach who had seen him play recommended him to this D1 college.
Did I mention that he has some really great parents too?...patient, supportive, respectful of the coaches, never 'in-your-face.'
I just heard he's been offered a scholarship...a good one too.
I tell this story just to point out that there is more than one way to get this done. Its not just about playing varsity as a frosh/soph or playing the big-time travel circuit. Those often help, for sure. But its also about not giving up, believing in yourself, taking HS baseball seriously...and just realizing that you never know who is watching.
