Sunday, April 14, 2002
Better grades pay off for White
College Update
By Shannon Russell, srussell@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When Rick White played center field for the Campbell County High School baseball team, he felt the future in his swing and saw a career in his fielding.
He shattered nearly every school record before graduating, batting .563 and drilling 14 home runs his senior year. College sounded like a good idea, mostly because it gave White a crack at his dream: playing major league ball.
The only thing stopping him was his report card.
“My grades were kind of poor in high school. That was kind of stupid on my part,” said White, who graduated with a 2.1 GPA. “It was really frustrating, because a ton of letters started coming in from colleges. And then none of them wanted me because of my grades.”
Next stop: Lincoln Trail Community College in Robinson, Ill. White chose the junior college for more than just an academic rehabilitation. In theory, he could have been drafted into the professional ranks two years earlier than if he'd entered a four-year program.
An injury to his left hamstring forced White to rethink his baseball future once again as he watched a season from the dugout. He decided maybe, just maybe, better grades could make a difference.
“It became a lot easier once I was away from home. I just sat in my room, did my homework and played ball,” he said.
He left Lincoln Trail with a 3.6 GPA and degrees in computer-aided drafting and arts and sciences.
Next stop: Union College in Barbourville, Ky. White transferred to NAIA Union this year to pursue another degree, this time in sports management. And to play Bulldog baseball. He's considered a junior athletically and a senior academically.
Forty-three games into the season, he owns the team's top batting average (.437), the most hits (62), doubles (19), home runs (10) and RBI (66). White, the starting right fielder, has set school records for most doubles in a season (19) and hits in a game (5, against King College April 10).
As of Friday, the Bulldogs (29-14) are second in the Mid-South Conference (13-6) behind Cumberland University.
Union coach Darin Wilson said White has been an integral part of the season's success. The Bulldogs graduated five seniors from a team that set a school record for most wins in a season (41) and have been seeking equalled success all year.
“This team seems to have its own identity and wants to make a name for itself,” Wilson said. “The big thing is our senior leadership. I think we've got enough guys who have been in the system for four years to go with our new guys, who have adapted well.”
Pitcher Nate Zettler, a Hamilton Badin graduate, is 7-1 and has lost only one conference game in two years. He owns or shares 13 school records, including most strikeouts in a game (11), most career wins (24), most career strikeouts (210), most shutouts in a season (2) and career (3), and most complete games (25).
Zettler has a 3.6 GPA, majoring in business and minoring in computer programming.
Zettler attributes the team's success to talent, chemistry and a little bit of hometown pride. The team boasts several players from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area; many were familiar with each other during high school. Zettler and third baseman/pitcher Josh Smith (Roger Bacon) actually warmed up in the same bullpen in a GCL showdown, long before meeting at Union College.
Union's other area players: Vince Bonhaus (Newport Central Catholic), Michael Smith (Purcell Marian), Matt Sharp (Newport Central Catholic), Jeff Henderson (Franklin), Jon Szary (Colerain) and Nate Stewart (Hamilton).
ALSO: Mount St. Joseph sophomore Kati Stroub (New Richmond) was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week after pitching three wins last week and totaling 13 strikeouts in 20 innings. The right-hander allowed 12 hits, three earned runs and five walks in the three games.
For the third time this year and the fifth time in his career, Miami University junior Brian Godsey (Lakota East) was named Mid-American Conference Men's Scholar Athlete of the Week. Godsey, a math and statistics double major who carries a 3.76 GPA, won the 5,000-meter run in 14:41.83 April 6 at the Cardinal Challenge in Louisville, Ky.
Mercyhurst College sophomore Troy Ledbetter (Sycamore) is first in Division II goals-per-game and third in points-per-game, according to the latest NCAA men's lacrosse statistics. Ledbetter has scored 34 goals and eight assists for 42 points for the 5-3 Lakers.
Ashland University freshman Carrie Harrison (Fairfield) set a school record in the pole vault with a 9-2.25 leap at a Wooster meet.
Wittenberg University soccer player Steve Cassiere (Turpin) has been selected to play in the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game at Ohio Wesleyan University today. Cassiere, a midfielder, contributed two goals and four assists and earned first team All-NCAC honors.
University of Cincinnati junior Chris Hamblen (Highlands) has been named to the official watch list for the 2002 Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the top collegiate catcher by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. Hamblen, a semifinalist last season, is hitting .319 and is tied for the team lead with seven home runs. He has a .433 on base percentage and has committed only one error in 211 chances. The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists by May 15; the finalists will be announced at the College World Series.
The Northern Kentucky University softball team, off to its best start in 13 y ears, is ranked No. 16 nationally in the latest Division II poll. The Norse, 24-6, are tied with Grand Valley State and Saint Leo (Fla.)for 16th in the national poll.
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Better grades pay off for White
