(Editor’s Note: Ty Orologio is a 2020 graduate of Longwood HS and the younger brother of Camden–who played at Adelphi University. He was with us at the August 23 Showcase at Ducks Stadium. Yesterday he announced his commitment to attend Dutchess CC. The following words are his own.)
People who know me, know exactly why I chose to attend a JUCO. It’s because I don’t prepare for the now, I prepare for the future. I want to set myself up for a successful future, whether it’s on the baseball field or not–I want to be successful. Going to a JUCO, mentally I feel relieved and my drive for determination and success on the baseball field could not be any higher. I’m going to go there and work–that’s it. The first thing I saw when I got out of the car was about a 40 foot hill and four levels of stairs that take you up to the campus which would be great for conditioning. I said to myself, “I belong here.”
Going the ‘JUCO route’ gives me more time to develop into the player I always wanted to become. The ideal scenario is that I will develop into a high-level player and move on to a Division-I school or get a call from a Major League club. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. But I will tell you this; I will do everything in my power in the next two years to develop into that player. If it doesn’t happen; fine. But I will do everything possible to achieve my childhood aspirations.
From Baseball Heaven to Fort Myers, FL, the one thing I’ve learned is that there are kids everywhere who want to play collegiate and professional baseball. Just six percent of high school players move on to play collegiate baseball. Finding the right fit for me was tough. Traveling through the mountains, playing in the burning heat in Georgia, or flying down to Fort Myers, I learned that there are schools everywhere. It’s just a matter of where you are going to play. Realistically, I knew I wasn’t getting recruited to an ACC, SEC or a big-time Div-I. But facing guys who are fortunate enough to play at those schools in the past couple summers made me realize how good you really have to be coming out of high school to play at these top-tier Division-I programs. That’s the player I will strive to be during these next two years.
I had some other options I could’ve chosen, before I announced by commitment. I was serious considering Old Westbury and Dutchess, I visited Old Westbury, Coach Stephan and his staff were all very supportive, influential and great guys but at the end of the day I felt like JUCO was the right spot for me, but once again I appreciate him providing me with that opportunity. They have a great program and I wish them the best. The hardest part of the recruitment process was standing out. It was frustrating. Some games there would be schools there and not that I did bad, I just didn’t stick out enough. The process is all about being in the right place at the right time.
The Axcess Baseball Showcase at Ducks Stadium was a very important part in the process. Multiple schools reached out to me who saw me at that showcase. Some programs reached out to me, it was just that I felt that taking the JUCO route was the right path. Overall I am very happen with my decision after a long and grueling recruitment process.
My parents played a huge part during the process.
They were very supportive and influential throughout my baseball career. My brother also played a major part in the process as well. As a kid, I looked to my brother as a god, baseball wise. He played at Adelphi for four years and is walking out of there with a Doctorate Degree in Audiology. As a kid–besides my parents–my greatest role model was Kobe Bryant. I love the way Kobe played but his Hall Of Fame stats weren’t the reason why he was one of my greatest influences. His mentality is what drew me to him. That killer instinct, that ability to go out there and say ‘I don’t care who’s on me, you’re not getting past me.’ It’s a trait that I don’t feel I developed. It’s trait that I was born with, that type of stuff you can’t teach. You can teach hitting, you can teach fielding, you can teach running. The one thing you can’t teach is heart.
Also, I was lucky enough to grow up watching phenomenal players who I tried to model my game after. When I saw Jesse Berardi play in high school who is with the Indians, I loved the way he was able throw on the run. So In my room I tried getting his steps down, “Okay how many steps does he take before he throws the ball? How long does it take for him to scoop the ball and throw it”. Also I was able to watch guys like Anthony Kay, Chris Weiss, Frankie Moscatiello, Aaron Floyd, and Camden Orologio. These guys they may not have known it, but I looked up to them. Also I have been lucky enough to play with some great ball players throughout my high School and travel Career. I would also like to thank Coach McSherry on helping me throughout this process, he was very supportive, understanding, and influential.. We have a good thing going on at Longwood. Hats off to him and the guys who have put in the work for the program the last couple years. We are excited for the season and we are ready to go back to the playoffs and finish what we started #TCB.
