Hartsell Always Dreamed About Becoming An Eagle

BRIDGEWATER, Ma. - Although both parents played sports at Boston College, there was no pushing Chase Hartsell to follow in their footsteps. When older brother Austin committed to BC, Hartsell was still encouraged to seek out what was best for him.

After long consideration, the Dexter Southfield sophomore has made a decision. The seventh-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in New England has made a commitment to carry on the family tradition at Boston College.

“I always dreamed about the day I could become an Eagle,” Hartsell admitted. “What an awesome feeling, it’s like a dream come true. I’m going to one of the best schools in the country where I grew up going to sporting events. My family is super proud.”

It is where his father played football and mother basketball. His brother, a senior at Bridgewater Raynham, followed suit signing with BC to play baseball earlier this month. Now the recently-turned 17-year-old is adding to the family history at a university just 45 minutes from home.

“Toward the beginning of my recruitment I had a lot of other interest, but at the end of the day BC was for me,” Hartsell said. “In thinking about where I would spend the next four years of my life and play baseball, my family let me take the path I thought was best for myself. I’d always been around BC culture since I was young and playing ACC baseball was a huge role in it. Also the chance to play two more years with my brother was big. I played with him in Little League and this is a great opportunity to play baseball with him for as long as possible.”

What Hartsell described as a “great high school season” helped bring interest in the 15th-ranked sophomore in New England.

“I started working in the summer with Matt Hopkins, a strength trainer, and John Derouin,” Hartsell explained. “Working with them in their environment helped me get stronger and made me want to get better. Also, Chris Welch with my AAU program GBG was helpful with my whole recruiting process.”

Schools took notice with Vanderbilt the first that Hartsell ever talked to before more interest accumulated. By the end of the high school season Harvard had offered. Advice from his parents helped the cause.

“They said don’t worry about who is watching, play like yourself,” Hartsell noted. “Don’t try to be someone else, be yourself and see if they like you. I tried to put as little stress on myself as possible. I was only a freshman and BC hopped in early. I went to a PBR event in the summer in Georgia and BC had my schedule and saw me there.

“The coaching staff at BC has been super helpful,” the seventh-rated 2025 from Massachusetts added. “Something that stood out about them was they were always around when I was pitching.”

What BC saw brought attraction to what the 6-2 170-pounder had to offer.

“I’ve always taken pride in being able to pitch in any situation with the mentality of not backing down,” Hartsell related. “They liked what they saw with me in that regard and my competitiveness.”

Hartsell pointed to his parents as being a big influence on, not only himself but his older brother as well.

“They always said to play as many sports as you can for as long as possible,” Hartsell explained. “My brother plays football and baseball and I play basketball and baseball. We took our own path, but baseball stood out for both of us. It’s super fun to play, we just enjoy it more than others. It’s been an awesome journey with baseball.”

A course that will continue at the Atlantic Coast Conference school in Chestnut Hill, Ma., where Hartsell is confident about making an impact.

“I’m not going in thinking I’m a freshman,” Hartsell said. “I’ll go in with a lot of swag to help out the seniors while also learning from them.”

There is more that Hartsell, a 3.7 student at Dexter Southfield who is uncertain about a college major, anticipates upon arrival at BC.

“I’m looking forward to getting a great education that BC offers,” Hartsell concluded. “Putting on a uniform that says BC is going to be special. The coaches are awesome and to be around the environment there with sports and athletics is going to be so special. I’ve always wanted to go somewhere like that.”