Skolaris In No Hurry As Options Come In

AURORA - Colin Skolaris can see a big difference in himself.

Weighing in at 170 pounds at the beginning of the summer, the Aurora junior now checks in 195 “with a lot of muscle” on his 6-0 frame.

“The main thing I’ve been working on to improve my game is lifting and getting stronger,” the 45th-ranked 2022 in Ohio said. “I’ve improved my strength and bettered my mechanics.”

Strength coaches Matt Noel and Bobby Suitca have been vital to the cause as has pitching coach Mike Grady along with Matt Roskinski, coach of Release.

Ohio State, Wright State, Marshall and Akron are schools that the 16-year-year old has been in talks, thanks to the efforts of both PBR and the Release summer program.

“I’m not looking to make a decision until after the summer,” Skolaris noted. “I want to weigh all my options.”

What the 16th-rated junior right-handed pitcher has discovered is what those at the next level feel about his potential.

“They like my projectability, I think it’s very good,” Skolaris related. “I’m able to spin my offspeed well and command my fastball.”

Jordan Chiero, PBR Ohio Director of Scouting, likes what he has seen in the sixth-ranked uncommitted right-handed pitcher in the state’s 2022 class

“This is a guy who has been on the radar of college coaches for some time now,” Chiero explained. “He’s a high spin-rate guy who can run it up to 87 and has shown a feel for spin. The breaking ball is well above average and he's consistently shown the ability to be in the zone.

“If I had to guess, I think schools are waiting for a slight velo bump from him so I think he'll be a guy with several suitors if he can come out this spring/summer and prove he can consistently pitch in the (80)5-7 range while touching higher.”

Skolaris showed off his abilities playing for Team Connecticut at the Future Games, striking out four in two innings on the mound.

“That was beneficial,” Skolaris said of participating in the PBR event last August. “Some coaches saw me there live streamed. It was fun being from Ohio and playing for Connecticut. It was different and a challenge overall, but it was a neat experience.”

It is just part of the exposure Skolaris has received.

“I’ve been sending out video and emailing coaches,” Skolaris pointed out. “I’ve also been going to the field with friends and taking video.”

Playing at the next level is becoming more of a reality through it all.

“Freshman year when I was with my old pitching coach I started getting my numbers up and started talking to colleges,” Skolaris reflected. “That’s when I thought I might make something of this.”

But the recruiting process has, admittedly, become more difficult.

“When I first started, getting recruited was easier,” Skolaris explained. “It’s a little harder now with covid. Now you can’t do camps and they can’t come and see you, so it’s gotten a little harder.”

Along the way, Skolaris is learning what he wants in a school.

“When I talk to them I ask where they think I fit in the best with their program,” Skolaris said. “Then I see about building a relationship with the coach. That’s what I value the most. I want to get to know them as a coach.”

It is just part of what Skolaris sees as a determining factor in making the final decision.

“For me personally, wherever I go I want to have my family able to watch,” Skolaris noted. “That’s a big thing for me. I’m also looking for not too big of a campus. I want a good size, but I want to know where everything is at. And of course I want a good relationship with the coaches.”

A 3.3 student considering a major in the business field with something like sport management, Skolaris is hoping to find the right fit “by the end of summer to end of fall” area.

“I hope to see some offers coming in,” concluded Skolaris, who has taken one campus tour while participating in a camp at the beginning of his sophomore school year. “I’m hoping to have some options to consider in making a decision. But I want to weigh all the options and then decide what is the best fit for me and my family.”