It’s baseball tourney time. While most high school state tournaments are looming, many small colleges and universities are wrapping up their seasons. There is something very special about “May Madness”. It is not about scholarships or playing time – it’s about winning and winning together. It is also a stage for amateur athletes to become heroes and leave a legacy that people talk about for years. Whether it’s a no-hitter, a diving catch, or a walk-off homer, it’s usually that one big play from the championship game that most legends are made. And as much as I’d like to share with you some SportsCenter moments from yesteryear, I’d rather discuss the inspiring journey of a young man who became a legend through a relentless regimen, work ethic and commitment to the game he loved. So here goes….
His story starts 6 years before we ever met. He was a tough kid from the south side of Chicago who loved baseball but excelled at hockey. After graduating high school, he moved with his family to Orlando in search of a fresh start. Here he was, an all-star hockey player now living in warm and sunny Florida. There weren’t any local hockey teams looking for a killer slap-shot willing to dole out any scholarships. So he thought he’d try his luck at collegiate baseball. What I haven’t mentioned yet is that he never played a single game of high school baseball. That’s right – not one single game.
He lived near Valencia Community College. During the 90’s, big leaguers would often come and train at the baseball complex there. He would come, observe and absorb anything he could. He’d shag balls, throw batting practice and with a little luck, they might throw him a bone and let him take a couple hacks too. He got to study the swings of Ron Karkovice, Barry Larkin, and Ken Griffey Jr. and soon adopted some of their training routines into his own regimen. He taught himself to switch-hit and learned that being good at something was not a seasonal commitment – it was year round.
Without any high school coach to help him with the college recruiting process, he went at it alone and got his foot in a few doors. A tryout here, a recommendation there…he eventually was given an opportunity at Edison Community College in Fort Myers and never let it go. It wasn’t until he headed north for his junior and senior years at Saint Joseph’s College (IN) that I got a chance to meet him.
In a sea of cardinal and purple, I see a guy wearing a ragged, yellow t-shirt. I went up to him and introduced myself and he told me his name was Dom. Dom and I became friends immediately. I appreciated how he carried himself in the classroom and on the diamond. He would train at all hours of the day: before class, after class and into the evenings. He also delivered furniture for a local business in town to pay for his apartment and expenses. This was the most driven person I had ever met, and I learned from him how precious a collegiate jersey really was.
Starting the season as a reserve, Dom had a make the most of his opportunities – and in his debut, he did so in dramatic fashion. As he approached the on-deck circle, this hockey-playing, self-taught, switch hitting, no high-school playin, back-up infielder turns to my father and confidently says with a smile, “Mr. Chapman, if this guy brings me that weak curve ball, I’m knocking it over that road.” Well, as promised, Dom did in fact hit a homerun that at-bat, and went on to hit many more. In fact, he hit his way to the Div-II College World Series in 1996, a professional contract, induction into the Saint Joseph’s College Hall of Fame, and was one vote away from getting national player of the year! Let’s not forget, he also achieved a degree in economics, graduating with academic honors. Did I mention yet that he played not a single inning of high school baseball?
This story should serve as inspiration to those who want to be a part of college athletic program while attaining a college degree. Dom is a perfect example that success can be achieved without the big scholarship offers or all the high school accolades. As much as we talk about the prime-time plays and big game moments, they are only the culmination of hours and hours of hard work and preparation. We in the sports community need to celebrate the journey and the heroes like Dom who never let adversity get them down. So as your season comes to a close, and you witness greatness on your biggest stage, don’t forget to recognize your own journey. It’s what got you there. It’s what made you the player you’ve become.