TheLounge
12-05-2007, 07:39 PM
Scotty Kalush is the perfect example of what hard work and determination can do for a high school athlete. Unlike his brother, Steve, who was almost considered a can’t-miss Division I college pitcher who is currently pitching at Santa Clara University, Scotty never had those kind of expectations. Heck, Scotty Kalush didn’t even make the all-league team last season.
Now a senior catcher at Aragon High, Kalush followed in his brother’s footsteps and earned a Division I college scholarship, signing with U.C. Davis a few weeks ago.
“I was pretty surprised,” Kalush said. “I thought maybe some small schools (would be interested). I didn’t really expect (a DI scholarship).”
Over the last four years, however, Kalush transformed himself from a guy who played catcher to a full-blown receiver —*a catcher that controls not only the pitching staff but the game. Catcher is probably the most demanding — physically and mentally — position on the baseball field. It’s no coincidence that many Major League managers are former catchers. Kalush was never the star on any of his teams. He is just the most fundamentally sound, coachable and hardest working player on the team.
“I thought I could be (a DI athlete). If someone gave me a chance, I could do it,” Kalush said. “I don’t think I’m as talented as other people. I just had to work harder than them.”
He said he first heard from Davis during the Dons’ Central Coast Section game against Aptos — which went to the Division III championship game. Even Kalush admitted the Davis scout was probably there to look at some of the Aptos athletes —*including Kevin Eichhorn, whose dad pitched in the Major Leagues.
He then attended the Stanford baseball camp and found that the Davis coach was “sorta” interested. He went to the U.C. Davis camp in late July and was offered a partial scholarship a few weeks later.
Here’s what U.C. Davis coach Rex Peters said about Kalush on the team’s Web site: “We feel Scott is one of the best defensive catchers in the state and is improving rapidly with the bat. He’s another tremendous student-athlete that is an ideal fit for our program.”
Kalush said he was ready to walk on at Santa Clara, joining his brother, before Davis offered him. Kalush’s transformation into a DI athlete proves that you don’t always have to be a household name to make it at the highest levels of collegiate athletics.
Just follow Kalush’s advice.
“You always have to be at your best. Someone is always watching you. You have to work hard or you’re not going to make it.”
***
And speaking of athletic success in college, former San Mateo soccer player Justine Morey proved this year that success comes in many packages.
A former standout goalkeeper for the Bearcats, Morey took her skills to Division III Wheaton College in Illinois. A junior with the Thunder, she helped lead her team to its third national Division III title in four years, beating Messiah College 1-0.
The Thunder finished the season undefeated (27-0), a new DIII record. Morey appeared in 10 games and had an 0.73 goals against average.
Now a senior catcher at Aragon High, Kalush followed in his brother’s footsteps and earned a Division I college scholarship, signing with U.C. Davis a few weeks ago.
“I was pretty surprised,” Kalush said. “I thought maybe some small schools (would be interested). I didn’t really expect (a DI scholarship).”
Over the last four years, however, Kalush transformed himself from a guy who played catcher to a full-blown receiver —*a catcher that controls not only the pitching staff but the game. Catcher is probably the most demanding — physically and mentally — position on the baseball field. It’s no coincidence that many Major League managers are former catchers. Kalush was never the star on any of his teams. He is just the most fundamentally sound, coachable and hardest working player on the team.
“I thought I could be (a DI athlete). If someone gave me a chance, I could do it,” Kalush said. “I don’t think I’m as talented as other people. I just had to work harder than them.”
He said he first heard from Davis during the Dons’ Central Coast Section game against Aptos — which went to the Division III championship game. Even Kalush admitted the Davis scout was probably there to look at some of the Aptos athletes —*including Kevin Eichhorn, whose dad pitched in the Major Leagues.
He then attended the Stanford baseball camp and found that the Davis coach was “sorta” interested. He went to the U.C. Davis camp in late July and was offered a partial scholarship a few weeks later.
Here’s what U.C. Davis coach Rex Peters said about Kalush on the team’s Web site: “We feel Scott is one of the best defensive catchers in the state and is improving rapidly with the bat. He’s another tremendous student-athlete that is an ideal fit for our program.”
Kalush said he was ready to walk on at Santa Clara, joining his brother, before Davis offered him. Kalush’s transformation into a DI athlete proves that you don’t always have to be a household name to make it at the highest levels of collegiate athletics.
Just follow Kalush’s advice.
“You always have to be at your best. Someone is always watching you. You have to work hard or you’re not going to make it.”
***
And speaking of athletic success in college, former San Mateo soccer player Justine Morey proved this year that success comes in many packages.
A former standout goalkeeper for the Bearcats, Morey took her skills to Division III Wheaton College in Illinois. A junior with the Thunder, she helped lead her team to its third national Division III title in four years, beating Messiah College 1-0.
The Thunder finished the season undefeated (27-0), a new DIII record. Morey appeared in 10 games and had an 0.73 goals against average.