Baseball - Pace University ePortfolio (2024)

Baseball

From when I was 13 years old, all the way up until I turned 19, I have played on summer baseball travel teams. I was blessed with the opportunity to play baseball all over North America, with some of the best players in the State of New jersey. Notable places where I played summer tournaments include: Nebraska, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Delaware, and numerous other states on the east coast. The team that I played for, the New jersey Jaguars, played nearly 40 games a summer, and the last tournament we played in, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, we went on to win.

During my five years with the Jaguars I had the opportunity to play in front of many different Major League scouts, and was in contact with many major Division 1 college coaches. The experience was not only stressful and nerve racking, but very exciting as well. I was lucky enough to learn a lot from the players on the team, and almost all of them went on to play baseball at a Division 1 level, with one of them being recently drafted into the MLB. I may have missed out on a lot of barbecues and beach days during those summers, but the memories will stay with me forever.

The realization that my playing days were over was a tough one to swallow. All I had known for the majority of my life was baseball. From 6 am practices, to endless hours spent in my batting cage, to the never ending mounds of dirt in my socks after a game, I will miss it all. Baseball gave me the chance to grow as a person, and learn how to handle any adversity or pressure packed situation, and turn it in my favor. The game also taught me that the sun would always rise the next day, and to never dwell on one bad game for too long because you have to mentally prepare yourself for the next one.

Although I can not play anymore, I still surround myself with baseball. I watch just about every Yankee's game on TV, and this summer began my coaching career. I was the head coach for a great group of 14 year old's, and working with them all summer was a blessing. I am currently giving personal lessons and teaching baseball camps out of a facility in New jersey, and wish to stick around the game for as long as I can, whether it be for younger players just learning, or for college athletes in their prime.

High school baseball was the best four years of my life. I participated at the Varsity level from my Sophom*ore year on, and was on arguably the best team in school history over those three seasons. We were back to back Morris County Champions my Junior and Senior season, both times defeating the number one ranked team in the county. My Senior year we were ranked 8th in New Jersey at one point, and made it to the State Finals, but unfortunately suffered a heart breaking defeat. Of the 9 Seniors on that team in my graduating class, four went on to play at the collegiate level, and one went on to play professionally.

During my three seasons playing Varsity, I accomplished some personal accolades, and although I hate talking about them, it only seems right to include here. In both my Junior and Senior seasons I was named to the All Morris County team, the All Area team, and the All Conference team for my playing ability. Also in my Junior year I was named to the All State team, was awarded with moment of the season by the Daily Record, and pitched to a undefeated record, a feat that has only been accomplished a dozen times in the school's history.

This article appeared in The Pace Chronicle, which is the universities on campus News Paper, and I was their featured athlete to write about. This was a huge honor for me, and it was a great feeling to be sought out by the university to ask about my sport.

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