Sheldon Gant '16 Recruiting Profile

It's the championship game on your home field, the last game of the year. The winner meets the podium, and the loser goes home. The game has been tight every single out, so tight you can feel the excitement in the air. It's the last inning and the game is unbelievably close, 3 to 2 in the other teams favor. "Strike three!" the batter in front of you just got out. The bases are loaded, and the outs column on the scoreboard now reads two. Your team is on its last leg. That last leg is you. Most people in this situation swing for the fences. A dazzling home run is in their sights, but these are the people who find themselves going home with no home run and no trophy. However, in this situation, I realize that there are runners on second and third. This means a good line drive to the outfield guarantees at least one run scored. Knowing this is all it takes, I am patient at the plate looking for a pitch up over the plate. Relaxing and not chasing, I watch a strike on the outside corner. To me this is not a costly mistake but an opportunity to further time the pitcher. There's a reason you get three strikes in baseball, and I have two left. Remaining patient, I watch two balls fall into the catcher's glove making the count 2-1. Now ahead in the count I know the pitcher is nervous. He needs a strike. As the ball leaves the pitchers hand you know it is where you want it. Your load time falls perfect and your hands fall straight to the ball. There it goes, a blazing line drive over the second baseman's glove straight to the gap. The first run scores tying the game. The second run is halfway home when the throw leaves the outfield. "Safe!", and the game is over. I won the game.

These moments have been the highlight of my life. Baseball is the greatest game that has ever been invented in the history of the Earth. I live for it. Throughout my life I have eaten, breathed, slept, and ate baseball.  Over my years I have played in multiple hundreds of games, and they all lead to one conclusion; I want to play college baseball. Baseball is not just a game either, it is a teacher. I have learned many life lessons from baseball throughout my career including success only comes from hard work, patience is an amazing thing, and working hard through adversity. These are only a few of many.

Shortstop and center field are my homes but I am capable of playing any position on the field. Hitting has always been my strong-suit batting .316 receiving second team all-state as a sophomore shortstop on varsity last spring. Last summer I batted .350 leading in average, stolen bases, walks, and other categories being a sophomore on the varsity legion team as well. We received the second place trophy in the state legion tournament with this team.

Not only do I aspire to play baseball in college I also wish to gain an excellent education. As hard as it has been to do I keep academics in front of athletics as I wish to reach a career in medicine, more specifically orthopedics and/or sports medicine. With this stated, I wish for the college I attend to have a high end medical program to allow me to gain the most out of my education. Balancing school and sports is definitely not an easy thing to do. In high school I have maintained a 3.9 GPA while also taking 14 credits of college classes. I recently took the ACT and received a score of 28. I take my education very seriously.

Working hard has always been in my resume. I was raised that you must earn what you receive and have taken that to heart. Most mornings I wake up bright and early and attend a morning workout with a trainer who has a professional history. After this I attend school and devote time to my studies. After school I hurry to baseball practice or games. This is my favorite part of the day. This usually leads to more working out and/or studying. My life is busy. I recently participated in an undefeated, state-champion football team contributing almost two hundred yards of total offense and a touchdown starting at running-back and line-backer in the championship game. This adds on to my resume of hard work.

To conclude my personal statement I want to say college baseball has been in my dreams since I was a child, and I hope to reach this dream. Although I love baseball, college is also about an education and education is high on my list. I look to be a leader on any team and hope I interest you. Thank you for your time and I hope I will be talking to you soon!