TraVon Bowman, 3B/1B, Bexley HS

PBR: Why did you choose John Carroll?
Bowman: I chose John Carroll because I felt like it would be the best place to continue my baseball career, as well as playing in a good competitive conference. I also felt very good on campus when I visited and I feel like John Carroll would give me a great education.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Bowman: The schools had came down to Bluffton or John Carroll and I chose John Carroll.

PBR: Where did the JCU coaches first see you?
Bowman: The first time they saw me was during Ron Golden's Fall League and again at a PBR event in Alliance. 

PBR: What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?
Bowman: They expect me to give 110% each day and work as hard as I possibly can to put myself in a position to help the team.

PBR:  What team do you play for in the summer?
Bowman: I will not be playing in the summer but I will be attending Ron Golden's Summer Academy as well as helping coach the 16u Ohio Independence team.

PBR: What sort of sacrifices did you have to make to play a travel intensive schedule during the summer? What sort of advice would you pass on to players looking to make the same decision?
Bowman:  I had to give up vacations and spending times with my friends but it will be fun this summer as I split my time between the two. I would advice other players to find a good team that would make you better and to give it a 100% effort every time you get the chance to play.

PBR: What was the most memorable experience from this summer?
Bowman: The most memorable experience would have to be playing against the Team Ohio in a tourney at Thomas Worthington and holding them to only 5 runs as my summer team lost 5-3, they were the best team that was in the tournament and we gave them our best.

PBR: Who has had the biggest impact on you as a baseball player?
Bowman: I would have to say that my coach (Tom Marker) and my grandmother (Carol Bowman) have had the biggest impact on me as a baseball player. My coach would always push me to make me try my hardest. My grandmother also had a big impact on me because she would be the one that would always talk to me about how I played in the game and she has done a lot to make it possible for me to be able to play in the summers and fall.

PBR: What were your stats last spring season at Bexley?
Bowman: I had a BA: .282, Slug: .352, OBP: .400, 20 hits, 15 singles, 5 doubles, 13 runs, 17 RBI's, 8 Stolen Bases and a Fielding percent of .738

PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher that you have faced in Ohio?
Bowman: The toughest pitcher I have faced would have to be a tie between Jimmy Lough (OSU commit) and Micheal Steensen (Akron commit). They both have challenged me when I have came to the plate against them in my four years as a varsity starter at Bexley.