Coming off the high of a state championship win, the last thing on the competitors’ minds is what’s next. For seniors Andreas Johnson, Connor McGee, Shaun Rudick and Nolan Ross, the next step is playing baseball at the collegiate level.
“Having to take a step back from all of the celebrating has definitely been tough,” Rudick said. “But I know that in a couple of months, a new grind starts.”
In about only two months, these athletes will settle and adapt to their new homes, where they will compete at the next level: Johnson to Neuman, McGee to Endicott, Ruddick to Stevenson and Ross to Dickinson. These next couple of months, however, will be key in preparing themselves physically and mentally for the collegiate level.
“Whether it is multiple workouts a week or taking, hitting and fielding reps, there is always more work to be done to prepare for the transition to college,” McGee said.
One major difference between high school and college baseball is the level of play, with college players facing faster pitching, smarter base runners, and stronger players. Many of the players they face are near-adults, as many of their opponents are more experienced due to redshirting and reclassing, where players get the ability to get more than just the four years of college athletics.
“I’m excited to be able to compete with some of the best talent across the country,” Ross said.
High school baseball teams usually are composed of just a handful of standout players. At the college level, however, every team is composed of students who have dedicated themselves to baseball their whole lives. Ultimately, these teams are stacked with talent across the board.
The adjustment to college baseball is one that former WJ outfielder Jake Goldberg endured a year prior.
“It is definitely a step up especially with balancing school work and baseball,” Goldberg said. “The coaches expect a lot from you and baseball is almost your full-time job.”
Collegiate baseball athletes are expected to be able to balance a more intense and hectic schedule than in high school. With games all across the country, finding time to complete school work is a taxing challenge, but it’s one these champions are ready to face.
