It was just over a year ago that we got the call that we thought that we would never receive. Son's grades weren't good and he was going to be placed on academic probation. I can still feel that ache in my stomach. As a family we decided that it didn't make much economical or baseball sense for him to stay there without scholarship money. So, we scrambled and got him into the local community college. Baseball was somewhat on hold, but he continued to workout and then played in a summer league.
In the two semesters that he has been at the CC he has taken 18 hours each semester and made the Dean's List twice. Baseball-wise, he played on the fall CC team and was offered 4 scholarships to D2 schools. As many know, for him to transfer to a D1 school he would have had to graduate from the CC and he decided that he would prefer to play for an "A" D2 school than a mid-level D1 school.
With the exception of one school, all schools offered substantially more than he was received at the D1 school he was first at. Two weeks ago he visited and then committed to Francis Marion in SC.
We were shocked when he was told that they want him for this spring season. So, next Tuesday he starts again. Emotionally all of us have been mad, happy, nervous, etc. and just hope and pray that he has learned from all of this and doesn't waste the talent that he has.
Just one other thing, after going through all of this it amazed me how many players go through this. Many don't get second chances, some do.
Anyway, hopefully this never happens to any of you out there because it is something that I wouldn't wish on any player or parent. And, if it does, don't kill your son (although you may want to) just hope that he learns from it, support him and try and get through it.
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