Scott Excited About Brotherhood Ahead At Maine

Evan Scott RHP / Archbishop Moeller , OH / 2024

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP - While recovering from Tommy John surgery, Evan Scott was not about to stop his recruiting process.

“It was going well up to then,” the Moeller senior said about his recruitment prior to a partial UCL tear in June that resulted in surgery on July 28. “I started emailing coaches on Aug. 9 and Maine responded the next morning. I had a phone call after their response and I sent videos and numbers from PBR. I’m 6-6 205 and was touching 90 before the injury, and he thought I was projectable.”

It was a while later that an offer came, and in late October the 51st-rated 2024 right-handed pitcher in Ohio took a visit to the university in the northeast corner of the United States.

“I fell in love with the place,” noted Scott, who was talking to a dozen D-I schools, some that wanted to see how he was after recovery. “It’s beautiful up there. I have family in New Hampshire and had a relative go to Maine that talked good about it. I committed the day after I came back.

“I just felt at home,” the 17-year-old added. “I’d been to Maine when I was like 10 and loved it. It’s super beautiful up there. I’m outdoorsy and like what Maine has to offer. It was like a little town out of a movie with a real homey feel.”

A commitment brought a close to a recruiting process that was “pretty stressful” according to Scott.

“At Moeller everybody’s committed, it’s basically ‘Who’s Next.’ ” Scott explained. “I took two visits the summer going into my junior year but it was pretty stressful toward the end. When I threw 90 I thought I could go almost anywhere but it humbled me when I was hurt. I had to work harder. I sent a bunch of emails and Maine took a chance. Through PBR is how Maine saw me with numbers and videos. It was the same with other schools, too.”

The injury, admittedly, brought a scare into the process.

“We’ve had two kids at Moeller that had Tommy John a month before me and they said it wouldn’t affect you, everybody’s used to it.” Scott said. “It’s a lot easier to recover from now. Everybody told me I’d come back stronger, but it definitely was scary when the MRI came back. But I was ready to take it on after that.”

The 117th-ranked senior in the state, who is expecting to be 100 percent by February, points to his father as being inspirational in his quest to play sports in college.

“My dad is 6-10 and played for (Bob) Huggins (at Cincinnati) in 1992 when they went to the Final Four,” Scott related. “I always thought I wanted to follow my dad in college. Basketball wasn’t my thing, but I had dreams of playing D-I baseball.

“I’ve always been a pitcher but struggled a lot with injuries, most growth-plate related. But I had a great season as a junior this year. I was a two-way player before but I’m a PO now. The day I hit 90 in a game at UD was the first game after the high school season. After that I told my summer coach I was a PO.”

Scott is confident he can make an impact with the defending two-time champions of the America East Conference.

“I want to bring usefulness with my pitching,” Scott said. “I’ve been a reliever my whole life, but I just want to be a reliable pitcher for them that they can always turn to. Those are the types of players that get you there (Omaha).”

Eric Minshall from OBSA and CBC summer coach Matt Heller are credited by Scott with being instrumental in his development and recruitment that culminated in a commitment to Maine.

“It was like a weight off my shoulders,” Scott said of making his college destination official. “I could finally call a place home after searching for such a long time. I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to play and to everybody that helped me along the journey in finding a place to call home.”

A major in business is the plan for the National Honor Society student, who carries a 4.25 weighted GPA at Moeller.

“I’m looking forward to having the same kind of brotherhood at Maine that we have at Moeller,” concluded Scott, who will be going to college 1,110 miles from home, an 18-hour drive. “I’ve linked up with a few of the guys so when I get there I’m already going to have an instant family. I’m excited to go there and get to work.”