Baseball is my life! To describe why I love baseball would encompass everything in my life. It includes my family, my friends, my passion for my favorite team, the feeling you get when you throw that perfect pitch, to hear my mom cheer me on even when I don't have a great game, and to know that my grandfather has front row seats in heaven while he cheers at every moment. My High School team is full of my friends that I have grown up with since Kindergarten. They have been at every birthday party and every major accomplishment in my life. They have encouraged me when I couldn't hit the ball as hard and when I wasn't as fastest baserunner. They always cheered me on even when I was the last out of the game. My teammates always picked me up at all of my life's lowest moments. Then, in one season, my body and my ability caught up with my desire. I could throw the ball harder then the rest of them and could spin it to come across the plate at all different angles. I had become "The Ace" or that is what they would say as we traveled on long bus rides across the state. I love being a pitcher. It is the one time you are completely in control of the onset of the contest. I love being strategic, reading every mannerism of the batter, and to know the perfect pitch to throw him. I love the science! If you hold the ball a certain way and spin it at a certain angle, you can make it dance around home plate. I love to hear the "clap" of the catchers mitt on a perfect fastball. The look of the batter as the ball blazes past him and the look on his face as he was deceived by the pitch selection. I also love the preparation! Long hours in the bullpen working on my craft and studying film on my favorite pitchers inspires me to be great. I know my team depends on me to dictate the pace of the game and my desire is to deliver. My favorite player plays for my favorite team. Jose Altuve is the Houston Astros second basemen and was not highly touted to be the next great baseball player. His story is one that I can relate to because I was always the smaller player and was underestimated. Altuve grew up in Venezuela and attended a camp to try out for the Astros. When he arrived, he was told he was too small to compete at the highest level. He never gave up on his dream. He proved to the scouts that not only was he not too small to play, but he became the face of the franchise over the next coming years. I love the Astros because my family loves the Astros. My father is from Houston and has shared stories of attending games at the Astrodome with his father. My fondest memories are being in the living room and cheering on our favorite team TOGETHER! That is what it's all about for me. The Astros is what bonds our family.

My dream is to attend a faith-based university as a student/athlete as I pursue a degree in General Business. I would like to continue to play baseball as long a my ability allows me to compete. Once I have a my degree, I would like to work for a business that aligns with my Christian values and allows me the resources to give back to my community during my personal time.