Tarlie Ready To Put In The Work At William & Mary

Cooper Tarlie C / OF / Belmont Hill, MA / 2025

NEWTON, Ma. - It wasn’t until fifth grade that Cooper Tarlie began playing baseball.

“My dad loved baseball, he played it in high school,” reflected Tarlie, who participated in competitive gymnastics until the sport of baseball entered the picture. “I think it was beneficial to do gymnastics. They’re strong and athletic so that was a good start. From there it was working on mechanics, skills and baseball IQ things.”

Flash ahead six years and the Belmont Hill High School junior is a college commit to William & Mary.

“During Covid baseball became more than just a dream, it became a goal,” the 12th-rated 2025 catcher in New England related. “I started taking nutrition and sleep seriously, getting in cages as much as I could. Anything to get to the highest level possible.”

The recruiting process took off at the start of high school.

“During my freshman and sophomore years I went to PBR events for exposure and met some coaches, but with the rule changes you couldn’t build relationships until after Aug. 1,” Tarlie explained. “In the fall I attended camps.”

It was early October when the 36th-ranked junior in Massachusetts checked out William & Mary.

“They invited me on an unofficial visit,” Tarlie reflected. “I toured the campus, watched a scrimmage and got a sense of how (head) coach (Mike) McRae runs the program.”

That was just part of what impressed Tarlie about the university in Williamsburg, Va.

“It was a combination of things that made it right for me,” the third-rated 2025 catcher in Massachusetts noted. “The location, it’s not too far from home but it’s not the cold New England weather. The coaching staff was also a big part. They’re able to compete for a championship in the CAA. Plus, it’s a really good education.”

UMass Amherst, a couple of Ivy League schools as well as other mid-majors were considered by Tarlie before a connection with William & Mary was made.

“They like my versatility,” the 90th-ranked junior in New England said. “I can play both catcher and outfield. My speed plays very well in the outfield. Being able to hit also pushed them on me.”

Improvement in his first two years of high school was key in getting interest from Division I programs.

“I had good tools, but my freshman and sophomore years is when I began to fully apply, getting bigger, stronger, faster and being more of a hitter,” the 5-11 205-pounder explained. “I became able to play small ball instead of just a gap-to-gap approach.”

Tarlie, who turned 17 on Nov. 24, pointed to coaches at Prime with “helping and guiding me with recruitment and also player development” in making college baseball become a reality.

“It was a shock to commit after all the hours - the blood, sweat and tears - to realize you did it,” Tarlie said. “But there’s still a ton of work to do. It was wow, while still knowing you’ve got to keep working.”

Tarlie is confident with what he can provide the Coastal Athletic Association program.

“On the field behind the dish I have a good sense of what’s happening,” Tarlie related. “I’m a good vocal leader and have the ability to swipe bags and hit for power. I’ll be the best teammate there is to bring everyone up in the locker room and the dugout.”

Tarlie plans to major in computer science and minor in business, understanding the challenges ahead at a strong academic university like William & Mary.

“It’s about finding the right balance of course load, doing homework and still being able to get in extra reps at the facilities,” explained Tarlie, who is carrying a 4.5 GPA this year. “It’s time management.”

Admittedly, being a student-athlete is an exciting feeling.

“I just want to contribute to the program in any way I can,” Tarlie concluded. “Bringing a championship would be great to do. Academically, I’m looking forward to getting a Bachelor’s degree while at the same time being the best player I can be. It’s about putting in the work to realize my potential.”