Panstares In Search Of School That Values Speed

John Panstares OF / 2B / St. Ignatius, OH / 2021

WESTLAKE - There are two qualities John Panstares is looking for in a college.

“I definitely value academics,” pointed out the Saint Ignatius junior, who carries a 3.5 GPA. “I also like schools that value speed.”

It is a part of his game that stands out.

“I’ve chased a goal of getting faster,” Panstares related. “You can tell by the numbers you’re seeing it’s happening.”

A 7.2 time in the 60 as a freshman transitioned to 6.9 as a sophomore and dropped to 6.5 this school year.

“I’ve worked my butt off to accomplish that,” the 62nd-rated 2021 in Ohio noted. “Now it’s just about adding weight and strength and going out to prove to college coaches what I can do.”

Being a catcher growing up has “helped with toughness and leadership,” according to Ponstares, who moved to second base around seventh grade before becoming an outfielder freshman year.

“I was thrown out to center field,” Panstares related. “At first it was tough tracking balls and getting angles, that comes with reps. With speed it becomes an angles game out there.”

The fourth-ranked uncommitted 2021 outfielder in the state believes what he can bring at the next level starts with speed.

“My speed makes the game different,” explained Panstares, who also pointed to his leadership qualities as another area of strength he displays. “It can change a game. The ability to track down balls in the outfield shrinks the field.”