Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Inside the Recruitment: 2017 C Colin Donahue Picks DePauw

November 2, 2016



By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

Carmel senior catcher Colin Donahue recently committed to DePauw. 

PBR: Why did you choose DePauw? What were some key factors in making your decision?

Donahue: I chose DePauw because it was the best fit for me in regards to academics, baseball, and extracurricular opportunities. I had always been interested in attending DePauw, and that interest grew largely when Coach Blake Allen was hired as the head coach in August. I felt like it was a great opportunity to play for a coach with such a high level of experience including tenures at Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky.

PBR: Where did they first see you compete?

Donahue: Coach Allen first saw me through video from PBR and Perfect Game, and then watched me compete in a game and showcase at the Indiana Prospects scout day this fall.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Donahue: I was originally considering The University of Chicago and potential walk-on opportunities at larger schools in the Midwest.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Donahue: I had always been familiar with the college basketball recruiting process through my father who coached basketball at Northern Illinois University and Bradley University. However, the baseball recruiting process differed largely, and I didn’t necessarily have any expectations about it when I entered high school. Shane Stout (head of Indiana Prospects) helped largely throughout the recruiting process by getting me in contact with college coaches that had shown interest.

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career?

Donahue: I was looking for a school with a highly respected academic reputation and a quality baseball program. DePauw provides a high level of academics and a baseball program moving in the right direction. The University also offers a business management fellows program that provides an exceptional speaker series, and works to pair students with internships during and after their time at the school.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you?  Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Donahue: My junior season at Carmel HS was a big jump for me as a player. I was more comfortable playing at such a high level against some of the big arms that the MIC has displayed over the past couple of years. Sophomore year was a big adjustment for me, and I feel like things really slowed down and came together for me as a junior.

PBR: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college caliber player and become serious about taking your game to the next level?

Donahue: I have always known that I have the physical ability to compete at a college level and help a program to win games, but I began to develop a tougher mental approach during the fall of my junior year. This helped me to strengthen the idea of playing at the next level.

PBR: Who is the best player you've faced in Indiana, and why?

Donahue: Possibly could be biased here, but I’m going to have to go with some of my high school teammates. From a pitching standpoint, Tommy Sommer has always shown unbelievable efficiency and competitiveness on the mound. Also, Rhett Wintner has the best bat that I’ve been around and Parker Massman is the best defender. It was also extremely helpful for me to play against and learn from Duncan Hewitt in conference play over the past two years of my career. He had some of the best defensive catching tools of any player in the state.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Donahue: I would give the same advice for any player wanting to play in college, and this would be to find the best overall fit for your own personal interests. I feel like a lot of players focus on just one aspect of a college, and it’s important to look into everything to make the best decision.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Donahue: Both winning a sectional championship, and coming back from an 8 run deficit in the bottom of the 7th inning vs. Lawrence North last season were two of my most memorable baseball moments.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us.  How do you feel your team will be?  What are your expectations and goals?

Donahue: I feel very confident about where we stand as a team going into this high school season. We return almost every starter from last year’s team, and we have a lot of young talent that I’m excited about as well. Coach Buczkowski and the rest of the new staff has done a great job to prepare us this off-season, and our team goal is to be the last team standing with a win in the final game of the year.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer?  What has been your most memorable experience with them?

Donahue: I have played with the Indiana Prospects throughout much of my summer baseball career. The most memorable experience with this group was beating Team DeMarini GA to advance to the championship round of the PG East Cobb invite as a 15u team. 

Related News