Senior Games Helps Roth Connect With Akron

CANFIELD - The comfort of making a college commitment during the beginning of your final year of high school has been realized by Joe Roth.

“What a great feeling,” the Austintown Fitch senior said. “It’s a lot of relief knowing I don’t have to think about it every day. What a great feeling to know I’m going to play Division I baseball with people that will be friends the rest of my life at a place I can call home the next four years.”

The University of Akron will be the destination of the 81st-rated 2022 in Ohio.

“I started talking to them 11/2 years ago, so it’s been awhile,” reflected Roth. “Then the dead period with Covid got in the way so they couldn’t come see me, just on video.”

Youngstown State and Seton Hill along with junior college Bryant and Stratton are other schools that were under consideration before Akron became the frontrunner in late summer.

“This came out of seeing me at a PBR event,” Roth said in reference to the Northeast Senior Games in Pennsylvania on Aug. 10. “After that they invited me on campus and surprised me with an offer there. It took me 21/2 weeks before I finally decided. It was a hard decision on my part.”

But in weighing it all out, Akron was the right fit.

“On the visit the coaches made it feel like home,” Roth related. “They showed me the little things I would need when I was there and what the lifestyle would be like. Then they took me on the field. I also thought the advisors treated me well.”

His ability on the mound drew the attention of Akron after hitting 88 on the radar at the PBR event in Allegheny.

“They like my pitching mechanics and that I attack hitters instead of working around them,” the 26th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in the state noted.

Roth credited PBR with helping give the exposure needed.

“The Senior Games meant a lot to me,” Roth explained. “They invited the best of the best and playing in them showed me the competition of high D-I and D-II talent in the future. It was a bunch of fun and helped me a lot in my commitment process.”

An improved game also proved beneficial for the 6-3 174-pounder.

“I struggled a bit during Covid, but then I started lifting more and getting stronger,” Roth said. “I made sure I never took a day off. After that I saw my velo go up and my full game got better. I feel that I got smarter, too, with what to throw and when to do it. My hitting also improved and I got faster out of the box which means more extra-base hits.”

That can come in handy as a two-way recruit by Akron.

“That was very important in my decision,” Roth admitted. “I’ve always wanted the chance to play outfield, hit and maybe catch at the next level. I’ve dreamed of doing that and not having to sit the bench.”

Roth pointed to the desire to be like his grandfather, Joe Roth - who passed away at the age of 26 - with giving him the drive to make this happen.

“He grew up playing baseball but then went to Youngstown State to play quarterback,” Roth said. “Then he tried out for the Pirates and made the cut. I’ve wanted to follow in his footsteps. It’s been a dream of mine since I was young.”

A dream that is now a reality for the 3.4 student, with a commitment to the Mid-American Conference school 50 minutes from home.

“There were a couple of surprises along the way with recruitment,” related Roth, who plans on a major in mid-level childhood education and hopes to coach one day. “Some schools reached out and then drifted away. But Akron stayed with me the whole way and that made it clear for me.”

There was help along the way in making it all happen.

“My parents have made a big impact on me, and my family in general,” Roth said. “And a huge thank you to my coaches. I’d never be where I am without them.”