Last week, I shared Part 1 with you of a RECRUITING SUCCESS STORY, and what is available if you keep an open mind throughout the recruiting process. Today, I want to share with you Part 2 of 2 of the success story from a VERY HAPPY Dad! Enjoy his email below, and please NOTE that I have HIGHLIGHTED some of his FINER POINTS.
I have changed the players name to John to keep his anonymity. Thanks, and let me know in the comments sections how I can help your son or daughter have an open mind about the recruiting process so they can play the sport that they love in college.
Recruiting Success Story
Hey Chris:
I finally made it to your blog. That’s fantastic. Well, here’s an update to my email that you recently put on your blog. I was back in KY for 8 days visiting John and to watch him and his college baseball team. The day after I got there, the coaches told me that John has separated himself from the other catchers and has proven himself to be their starting catcher (as a Freshman!). Well, for the 8 games that I was there, John started in 5 of those games. He didn’t start in 2 since they were double headers and the coaches certainly didn’t want to wear him out for 2 games in a row. The last night I was there, they sat him to give him a rest since the game wasn’t a conference game and wouldn’t count in their record towards playoffs at the end of the season (since playoffs are determined by the conference record only). They wanted to have him completely ready for the upcoming weekend games which were their first conference games of the season.
In the 6 of 10 games that he has started and played this season, John is batting .368 with an OB% of .556 and a SLG% of .526. He is second on the team with 9 runs scored and tied for first with 3 doubles. He has 7 walks and has picked off 2 runners at first base tying him for the top spot in conference. He is having a great time and loving the fact that he is an important component and integral part of the team. The coaches love him, his attitude and effort that he puts on the field. He calls the pitches the entire game and the coaches have complete confidence in him….something he never received from his high school coaches. He is thriving in the classroom and on the baseball field.
Being open to consider a smaller Division III school has allowed John to focus better in school, make close friends immediately, be an impact player on a college team and allow him to show how great he can be if given the chance. Even though Kentucky wasn’t our prime choice for a college location, it is a wonderful experience for him and has opened the doors to allow him to achieve the potential he always had but wasn’t given the chance to prove on his high school baseball team due to favoritism and prejudicial treatment.
I have heard of so many horror stories about young men who had the passion to play college baseball only to be disappointed and dejected as a result of their experience with a large Division I university. I have not regretted John’s decision for a second and now that baseball season is upon us, I feel even more strongly that he made the right choice to go to a Div. III school (out of state) which will be with him for the rest of his life. His overall baseball experience has only been greatly enhanced and his confidence boosted by attending and playing baseball for a Division III school.
Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I know that you can totally appreciate and understand what I am talking about. Keep up the great work in passing along such information to families of high school athletes.
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