Every other week this spring season, Andrew Velazquez will take us inside the Fordham Prep baseball team. In his exclusive diary on NYPost.com, the Virginia Tech-bound shortstop will give us an inside look at the Rams’ quest to win a CHSAA Class AA intersectional title and his preparation for the MLB First-Year Player Draft.
After a red hot start at 8-0 the team cooled off a bit with a three-game losing streak. In each game we held an early five-run lead, then ended up losing it in the late innings. The entire team was in a funk that was finally snapped with a big win against Stepinac where we were down early and came back to win the game. It was a much needed win for us. As much as winning is contagious, so is losing, and no one likes losing.
It was great to see our bats come alive and our defense play up to its capabilities. Baseball can be that way sometimes though. One day you’re red hot and the next you’re ice cold. Regardless of the outcome it takes zero talent to play hard and that’s what we are coming to learn as a team. We can win the game with other things like base running or taking walks and executing the fundamentals in baseball. It’s a weird game when you really think about it.
This leads into something I am starting to understand when it comes to playing in front of scouts. Even though you may not have a great statistical game, you can impress scouts with little things. Things like running everything out, hustling, making hard throws, running the bases well, and making the routine plays.
Also, no matter what, the tools that a player contains will come out at one point during the game and that is what the scouts are there to see. After all they are trying to project what you’ll be down the road in a few years. So even if you go 0-for-4 you may make a play on the field that opens someone’s eyes. You never know who’s watching so like someone once told me, “it takes zero talent to run hard to first base.” Wise words.
At this point, still being in first place is comforting as we look to start a new winning streak and keep the ball rolling into these last few games of the season. It’s the kind of momentum we had in the beginning of the season that we are looking for to go into the playoffs with. A few big games are coming up especially the one against St. Joseph by the Sea on Saturday. That’s a game I’m sure both sides are looking forward to as we both look to prove to the league that we are one of the best teams out there.
Check back with Andrew Velazquez every other Friday during the season. His next diary will run May 24.