Zachary Rankin ‘15 Recruiting Profile

Personal Statement

Hello Perspective Coaches

         Let me tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Zach Rankin. I am a 16 year old Sophomore in High School. I have been playing baseball and football since I was 5 years old. I am an avid athlete and play baseball, football, run track and do power lifting as a high school athlete. I am an athlete who plays with all his heart, in all I do and I do everything I can to work at and develop my ability in the sports I play in. I give 200% both on the field and in practice too and for that matter in all I do and the words “Give up or Give in” are not in my vocabulary.

In both of my two years of High School, I have played on our High School's Varsity Football and Baseball Team as an outside linebacker. I was moved up from the JV Football team where I was the starting quarterback and starting outside linebacker for them.  I have been a leader on every team I have ever played for. I have been the starting Varsity Catcher for my baseball team for both years as well.

I have played catcher since I was 5 years old. In the last two years my coaches have also started using me as a closing pitcher when they needed me. When they want to just to give me a break in the heat of the summer, they will put me at Shortstop or on 3^rd  for an inning or so to cool down, but my preference is being behind the plate and that is where they try to keep me.

I am a kid who does not need to be pushed and I never have. In fact I even ask to do more. Just as an example of this….This summer I was actually playing for 5 baseball teams at the same time. And yes.... It was with all of my coach's permission and having their blessings to do so, along with a few restrictions here and there, but I was playing all out on all 5 teams and it never bothered me a bit and never lessened my game with any of the teams I was playing for. 

Anyway, while I was still just playing on the 4 teams, I actually asked my Dad if I could play on a 5^th team, which was our hometown Pony League team, because all of my friends were there and they wanted me to play with them and so I did.

It was kindly like a vacation to me and I really enjoyed it, because I was there with all my friends and I was averaging throwing 8 to 10 people out per game and carrying a 1.000 batting avg. for most all of the season. I was also able to pitch quite a bit for them too and in fact, two years ago in Pony League, was how I actually got into the pitching realm of things. It was kindly crazy for me that day, because we were out of pitchers and our starter for the day, showed up hurt, so he couldn’t pitch.They asked my Dad if he would allow me to pitch and he said okay. Anyway this was my first time to really ever be on the mound as a pitcher and low and behold I pitched a no hitter on my very first time out. Everyone was blown away including my Dad and what made it even better that day was because we were also playing a very good and well known traveling team from our area, so that added icing to the cake. From there on, my game changed quite a bit.

My Dad who was also a Catcher and Shortstop when he was younger, knew nothing whatsoever about pitching except that my mechanics as far as he was seeing, were not the best. So together we decided after that game, that I needed to be sent to a pitching/hitting and catching instructor out of Crockett Texas named Shorty Pugh to develop that part of my game.

My Dad did this mainly because he felt like he didn’t have the knowhow to teach me the correct way and he felt like through the instructor, maybe that part of my game could be developed the right way, the first time. So I have either been going to him for lessons and also some specialty instructors with my tournament teams, along with him for the last 3 years.

Now because of that....When the teams I play for get in a tight, they can bring me in as a closer and it seems to be working out so far and I have never had anyone score when I was pitching...
  

My Dad has always done everything he can to help me and he has provided me with unimaginable resources to help me achieve the potential he says he knows I have in me. He is my greatest encourager as well as my friend.  What is really bad about all of this, was it took a long time for me to actually realize just how good I had it. But the great thing about me coming back to my home town pony league, was that I actually got to see what all those resources had done for me and what playing in all those tournaments had done in developing in my game. I got to see where I came from and where I would still be had I not been able to do all that I have….I thank him every day for all he has done and provided for me. He is really hard on me and he rarely cuts me any slack, but I know it has helped develop me as a player and soon to be as a man.

In fact on my 16U tournament team I played for on the Pride 16U College Showcase Team, I caught for most all the games we played with the only exception being....When they brought me in to close out a game. The first time they had to have a pitcher, the coach asked if I would pitch for them and I said yes and they brought me in and so my first time to pitch for them....I threw a 7 pitch inning and closed the game out. My love is still catching, but I don’t mind helping out pitching if they really need me. Also in that game….I hit the first home run of the season for my team.

So baseball for me is my love and where God has gifted me and privileged me to play. I do enjoy playing football, as well as the other sports and they keep me in shape too and who knows where they may lead me too. But know this.....Baseball is my first love and my no. 1 sport and I think with a good Education and Baseball...That it is what will help take me where I dream of and want to go in Life!

Thank you Coaches for taking the time to read my profile and this opening statement from me and for giving of your time to do so. Know this….I have no preferences yet as to what college I want to attend. My major, at least for right now is to go into either to go into some kind of Sports Medicine/Trainer type degree or some type of Coaching degree. My ultimate dream though is to, go all the way into Major League Baseball and also get a degree along the way to fall back on once I retire.

School size does not matter, but getting a good education is a priority for me. Location is also not a concern for me either, but I would like to be able to play as a freshman and if I keep working like I am to develop my game.... I know I won’t disappoint you in that either.

At present my grades are all great and I am in 3 AP honors classes….Math Science and English. I take my grades very seriously and my goal is to graduate with a 4.3 / 4.0 GPA and to take as many college classes as I can, while I am still in High School. I am no slacker and I mean business to graduate as a well sought after athlete along with an Academic package to go with it too. Once again thank you for reading my rather long opening statement but I felt like you needed to hear this to really know me.

Thank you,

Zach Rankin