By Jerry Shank
Maryland Director of Scouting

Follow @PBRMaryland
Like us on Facebook

Georgetown Prep Senior Andrew Ashur committed to Davidson College in 2014.  The left-handed pitcher anchors a talented Georgetown Prep Pitching staff for Coach Chris Rodriguez. Ashur was kind enough to take some time out for PBR Maryland and talk about his decision.

Why did you choose Davidson?

--First and foremost, I chose Davidson because they are one of the best academic colleges in the country. I wanted a school that would challenge me in the classroom, where I would also have a chance to play Division I baseball. I fell in love with Davidson because it is such a unique community and everyone seemed so gregarious. Also, roughly 25% of the student body plays a D-1 sport, so it's unlike any other school. Lastly, Coach Cooke and Coach Taylor both made me feel like I could call Davidson home and I look forward to playing for them.

What other schools were you considering?

+Georgetown, Princeton, Navy, Bucknell, and GW.

Now that your commitment is over, what are your goals for your senior year?

+My main goal for senior year is to reclaim the IAC championship. Over my three years at Georgetown Prep, we've gone 35-1 against IAC opponents and would have garnered three IAC titles, if it weren't a tough loss last year in the championship against St. Albans. Also, I hope our team will finish the year ranked top 10.

What would you like to get accomplished before you step on campus at Davidson?

+Before my freshman year I want to develop consistent command of my changeup and continue to grow physically stronger.

What are you looking forward to the most about Davidson?

--It's hard to say what I'm looking forward to most because I'm really excited for the overall experience. It's a toss-up between taking classes that I'm interested in and having the chance to play against some of the top teams in the country, like North Carolina and South Carolina.

Who did you play for over the summer and what was your most memorable experience?

+Last summer I played with the Evoshield Canes. My most memorable experience occurred when we played a game at GW. I had recently gotten back from a two week service trip in El Salvador and hadn't picked up a baseball in a while. Despite the rust, I was sitting mid 80s and was controlling all four of my pitches. I didn't give up a hit in my outing and things really started to click for me afterwards.

Who has been the most influential person over your baseball career and why?

+I've been blessed to have a multitude of people in my life who have influenced my baseball career in a positive manner, but my head coach at Georgetown Prep, Coach Chris Rodriguez, has definitely made the biggest impact. Since my freshman year, he has had a tremendous amount of trust with me and really built up my confidence. For our season opener my freshman year, we were playing Calvert Hall and they were ranked as one of the top teams in the country that year. The game was tied 3-3 in the fourth inning and Coach Rodriguez put me in the game. I think everyone, including myself, was a bit shocked that he wanted a freshman to be the first guy to come in and relieve. I ended up throwing really well, though, and over the years Coach Rodriguez has continued to push me and make me grow as a player by putting me in pressure situations.

Who is your favorite MLB player and why?

+Despite having a down year in 2014, Gio Gonzalez is my favorite MLB player. Gio is listed on the roster as 6-feet tall, but is really only about 5-foot-10. I look up to him because he is also an undersized lefty and he's had a lot of success. He's not effective because he blows guys away, but, rather, he's effective when he locates his pitches and changes speeds.

What are you going to bring to Davidson as a freshman?

+As a freshman I'm going to bring an incredibly intense work ethic to my new team. I may not be the biggest or most talented, but I take pride in working as hard as I possibly can to improve, whether it's in the weight room or on the field and I will push those around me. Most importantly, I've learned that there are a lot of things in baseball you can't control, but you can control effort, so I give my training and practicing all the effort I have. Lastly, I'm competitive to an extreme and hope to be a great teammate to my new team. I'm one of the loudest guys in the dugout and am always cheering my teammates on.

What is your goal by the end of your freshman year?  By the end of your college career?

+By the end of my freshman year I want to be consistently in the upper 80s and touching 90 mph, while continuing to locate all of my pitches. At the end of my college career, I hope to look back on my four seasons with no regrets, knowing that I gave every pitch all that I had. In addition, I hope to help our team win a conference championship and have a regional appearance.

Random question:  What is your favorite movie and favorite follow on twitter?              

Favorite movie: Coach Carter
Favorite Follow: @therealdlip0