So I've spent the last 24 hours racking my brain and trying to figure out what I wanted this first post to be about. Even as I sit here typing this I'm almost hoping I'll have some sort of epiphany. The logical thought i would assume, would be to let this first post be mostly about me (I'm aware how conceited that sounds). I don't necessarily want to preach about my lifestyle, rather just about how I got to where I am and what I believe lays ahead for me.
Coming out of an urban high school in a pretty populated Cleveland suburb, it was always very evident what happened to most of our graduates. They either stayed in Lorain (by "stayed in" I mean got trapped in) and never really made the most out of their potential and/or opportunities. You had the people that went on to the local community college and tried to get a two-year degree then hoped to transfer out to finish their Bachelor's Degree. Most succeeded in this venture, but so many failed. You then had the kids that did desperately want to go to a four-year school (mostly for the wrong reasons; get away from their parents, party, have no one to answer to, etc.) it is no surprise that these students never really stuck it out past a year or two. Finally there were the goal driven students who were determined to go to a four-year university, get a degree and make a name for themselves. Each of these students had their own intangibles that made them so driven and so goal oriented. I would like to proudly consider myself a member of this group. My intangibles were a fairly high GPA, good test scores, and last but certainly not least a passion and a drive to play the game of baseball at the collegiate level.
After numerous camps, showcases, workouts, and recruiting visits (by the way without my mother none of this would have been possible, I am forever in her debt) I finally landed on my school of choice. My proverbial "Decision" was to take my talents (Cleveland fan throwing a shot at He Who Must Not Be Named) up to the snow belt and play for Head Coach Brian McGee and the Lake Erie College Storm. To sum up my logic in choosing this school I can simply say that I sincerely thought that by attending that school I would become not only a better ball player but a better man as well.
Now, in my third year as a member of this program I can confidently say that i made the right choice. My career On the Diamond has been a roller coaster over the past three seasons (including this one). My freshman year I led our staff in appearances and fell comfortably into a closing role, a role I thought I could make a home for myself in for the next three years. The following year was when the road got a little rockier though. Due to a sprained UCL (Tommy John Ligament) I was forced to sit the entire year out and take a redshirt. This was undoubtably one of the most difficult things I have ever done; going to practice every day and not being able to do what I loved most (grip those seams and just let it fly) almost seemed like a form of cruel and unusual punishment. I had convinced myself that this was a blessing in disguise though, being that I would be able to come back and play for a fifth year. I opted to do an eight week rehab program (instead of surgery) and get myself ready for the fall semester. Now lets jump ahead to the end of this past fall semester, my arm was feeling healthy and I was ready to tackle this challenge that my teammates and I faced (first year of GLIAC conference play). Unfortunately this past winter my elbow began to shut down on me again. So as of late I have been struggling with the notion of my days on the field could very well be numbered, and believe me when i say struggle I MEAN IT. There's more on this topic to come in a post in the very near future.
My career Off the Diamond has also experienced some change, coming into college I wasn't so sure of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I mean I knew there were a lot of things I thought I'd be good at and really happy doing but i just wasn't sure how to narrow it down. Being that I am an over enthusiastic sports fan and athlete I naturally chose to start my college career as a sports management major (real original, I know). At the beginning of my sophomore year, I had narrowed down my career scope a bit and changed my major to Legal Studies (in anticipation of attending law school upon graduation). However, in the past year (really since this past summer) I have taken great interest in learning the other side of the game of baseball. The side thats not between the lines, the side that is in a box right next to third base. I've now set my sights on finishing my under grad degree and then pursuing a Graduate Assistant position as a pitching coach. I can then only hope the stars align and after I finish my Masters Degree, I have the opportunity to stay in the college ranks and turn coaching into a career.
I am a big believer in not getting too far ahead of yourself, so for now I am just taking this process day by day and enjoying every minute I get to be around the game that I fell in love with at a very young age.
