A Short Sports Story:

My time as a High School Baseball Player

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

1/1/2020

  I never played organized sports throughout much of my childhood. The closest I came to it was when I went to observe the first tryout day of my Middle School basketball team at James Madison. As that story goes, I was not enticed to tryout and my athletic future halted there. I eventually came around to finally mustering up the drive to try to play an organized sport in high school. In my mind at the time it was more to add to my eventual college resume, than interest in sports. Though when it came to pick a sport it was easy to try-out for my High School baseball team. At Archbishop Carroll, football was the main draw with Basketball, Cheerleading, and Track all solid secondary options. I decided on Baseball because in my mind it would be the easiest sport for me to try-out for. Allowing me to easily transition for the first time into ‘the student/athlete lifestyle’ I thought. While this 3-year experience did not play out as I anticipated, it was a period that provided me a plethora of experiences I will remember forever.

            My brief baseball career began my Sophomore year of High School when I decided to officially try-out. I went to the initial briefing to meet the new coach Carroll, prepared for tryouts who were 3 weeks from that day. Though due to lack of commitment and experience I came in with, when the team announcement was posted I found out I did not make the team. I was named the club equipment manager, which was nice cause I got to travel to all the games and be at all the practices with the team. It still did not feel great, even though I went into this opportunity with low expectations I was disappointed in my missed chance. The team finished a little under .500, but overall struggled to win and it was a tough season to watch let alone not play a part in. Which is why I committed to making the team next season at the conclusion of the year.

            My Junior year came and when baseball season was nearing, I was far more focused and motivated to make the team. I went through all the residual meetings and tryouts knowing with several seniors having graduated the previous year, spots were open to make the club. It was up to me to put in more effort and practice in this time to ensure I would make the team. This time I worked more with my Grandfather tracking flyballs, fielding groundballs, and hitting at the batting cages to be better prepared. I even worked out some to improve physically when I had the opportunity. Thus, when try-outs came, I was more confident, and it showed on the field. My fielding was better and hitting had made strides. This time when the team was announced I had made the team as a backup outfielder, even though I tried out as an infielder. I went home that night told my parents and was as excited as I could physically show about my achievement. When the season came though I ended up more of a spectator than contributor. I got to play in maybe 4-5 games all season and only 1 as a starter, yet I experienced a lot. I witnessed everything from cancelled games, coach and player disagreements, injuring my hand in a game where our opponent was undermanned, and seeing the coach leave. I finished this season with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit by pitches. It was weird year, but one where I was happy to make the club and experience life as an athlete.

            When my Senior year came, and my goal further evolved into wanting more playing time then I got the previous 2 years. With me as a returning player and lone Senior this time around I felt my spot was secure, but I still worked with my Grandfather to improve further. More change was to come to the program when our new coach Coach Allen came in to become the manager. He to me was a nice change of pace at manger for the team to have. I made the team as the starting second basemen and was the defacto captain of the squad. I was not the best player but held my own and had two highlights I remember from this final year as a high school ballplayer. I had two highlight reel defensive plays against Bishop Ireton on the road. One when I had a diving stop to get a force at second to get my uniform nice and dirty. The second was a backhand stop on a tricky hop to get an out at second again to help our struggling pitcher. These two plays showed all the athletic and instinctual skills I had and will always stick as memories in my mind. I finished this year with 4 hits, 1 walk, and 2 defensive gems all career highs. While my ending high school stats were not tremendous nor officially documented as baseball was third tier in terms of importance at Carroll, but it was fun.

My baseball career came to an end after High school as even though I considered trying out for the Club Baseball team when I got to college. I thought better of it and decided to leave my career as it was. My experience in an organized sport was short but event filled. From having 2 coaches in 3 years, going from a team manager to starter, to even the surprisingly increasing effort I put in each year it molded me a lot. This experience taught me about work ethic and drive, while forcing me to become a leader and deal with adversity. This period allowed me most of all to tell this story and begin the growth of my love of sports.