Personal Statement

I started playing baseball as soon as I was big enough to hold a bat. Even before I just hit a ball off a tee, I dreamed of playing for the New York Yankees.  It helped that I have grown up in a baseball-crazy house. When I was about five years old, my dad took me to my first Yankee game.  That day he taught me how to score, and we spent the entire time scoring the game.  I discovered it was not only playing the game I liked, but I liked to watch and see how other players played the game.

I tried other sports like basketball, fencing and volleyball but even though I had fun playing those sports, I would come back to baseball.   Baseball was always in my heart.  

Playing is not the only aspect of baseball that I enjoy.  I coach kids at the fundamental aspects of the game.  I find it rewarding when I see a kid that I have coached go out on the diamond and become successful using the skills I have taught him.  I have also umpired for my town’s league. 

In my life outside of baseball, I enjoy cooking and art.  I also spend a lot of time raising Seeing Eye Dogs for blind people.  My family is currently raising our fourteenth guide dog.  We get these puppies when they are just seven weeks old.  We housebreak and teach them house manners.  During their time in our home, we train them in basic obedience and expose them to as much of the world as possible to ready them to aid blind people in their lives. 

Last summer I took a trip with 20 other teens from all over the USA and we went and played baseball against German national teams. We then Go to Amsterdam to play a Dutch national team and a Dutch professional team.

This summer I will be playing for the North Jersey Cardinals.  I have also played with them for the past two fall seasons.

If I do not get to play major league baseball I would definitely like to stay in the baseball field.