(Editor’s Note: Cameron Mayer is a 6’4 RHP that is a 2019 graduate of Syosset HS. He is one of the top power pitchers on Long Island. He recently committed to Tufts University in Massachusetts. The following words are his own…)
The college baseball recruiting process is more than just going to showcases and tournaments. It is an emotional, frustrating process that brought together all aspects of my life in a way that nothing else had. Honestly, the process took a lot out of me and my family and I’m glad it’s over, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
In order to have success during this process, the support system you place around yourself is crucial. Having family and friends who encourage you and want nothing but the best for you is key. I was lucky to have this from the start and I’m not sure I could’ve made it to where I am without the love and support of my friends and family. Having coaches who were constantly working with me to achieve the goal of playing college baseball expedited the process significantly. I cannot begin to express the gratitude I have for the Long Island Titans organization for guiding me through this past year. Titans recruiting coordinator, Tom Downey helped me create a plan going into this process and reached out to many schools on my behalf. On the field, Coaches Paul Parsolano and Greg Naccari made this the best summer of baseball I’ve ever had. I couldn’t have asked for two more genuine people to help me get through this process and attain my goal. Coach Pars being a pitching coach gave me a tremendous advantage in learning to become a college pitcher. Additonally, Bobby DeMichael from Prospect Sports in Farmingdale and the whole staff at Athletic Movement Protocol in Syosset are two major reasons I am a soon to be college athlete.
I have no older siblings so my family had never dealt with the process before, and the unfamiliarity with college recruiting made each moment of the process a learning experience. At first I was unsure where I stood as far as what colleges I may be able to play at, but Tom Downey helped me make a realistic list of potential schools to get in touch with. I began contacting coaches, and that’s when the frustrating part started. Many coaches didn’t answer, but I knew it was important not to get discouraged. Whether coaches answered or not, I was persistent in emailing them especially if it was a school I really had interest in. I always let them know when and where I was pitching a few days before to give them time to make plans to see me. I knew that in order to get a coaches attention I would have to do my due diligence.
Showcases were another very confusing part of this journey. They are very expensive and I knew financially, there were only so many I could participate in. It was also tough deciding whether to go to a specific schools showcase or one that many coaches would be attending. I found that a lot of showcases, especially for a pitcher, are extremely helpful for networking and getting personal contact with schools. The Blue Chip Prospect showcases were some of the more helpful one’s I went to.
No matter what showcases I went to or how many coaches I was emailing, it was my performance on the field that allowed me to gain attention from college coaches. That is truly the most important part of the process. Everytime I took the mound, my goal was to prove to every person in attendance, coach or not, that I had the ability to play college baseball at a high level.
The choice to commit to Tufts University was an easy one. No school better paired baseball and academics. Their coaching staff is second to none and the school’s athletic and academic reputation speaks for itself. Tufts has a beautiful campus and is right outside of one the most incredible cities in the world, making it a place I am looking forward to spending my
