Nathan Allen, a right-handed pitcher from Revere High School, recently committed to the University of Akron. Learn more about his recruitment process and the reason he decided to become Akron's first commitment for the Class of 2012.

 

PBR: What schools were you considering alongside Akron?
Allen: Arizona State would have been fun, but the opportunity to showcase never appeared.  I had also been considering Toledo and Radford, but Akron?s new coaching staff really impressed me.

PBR: Take us through the decision to commit to Coach Rembielak and the Zips, what was the ultimate reason(s)
Allen: Luckily, I had the opportunity this past winter to work out at Akron?s facilities (at three of their baseball camps), which first sparked my interest.  While both Toledo and Radford have quality baseball programs, coach Rembielak has an outstanding track record as a baseball coach.  I also wanted to stay relatively close to home and support baseball in Northeastern, Ohio. 

PBR: In choosing to attend Akron you won?t be far from your home in Richfield. How did having the comfort and familiarity help in your decision
Allen: I really enjoy the ability to still interact with my family, but having that also means having the cold, which is bad?especially for pitching, where it is especially difficult to grip a slider in cold weather.

PBR: Is there a special feeling knowing you?re the first ever commit for Coach Rembielak at Akron?
Allen: It is definitely a humbling, but very exciting feeling, knowing that my commitment could very well kick of a huge turn-around into making Akron a powerhouse in the MAC.  Besides, coach Rembielak was Dick Schoonover?s head coach at Kent State and Dick taught me how to pitch (he worked with me for seven years).  So playing for coach Rembielak and being his first recruit is particularly special to me.

PBR: As a pitcher what are the pitches you throw, which offering are your most comfortable with after your fastball?
Allen: I like to pitch thinking of the situation. When I want a ground ball out, the curveball comes out. When I want a strikeout, the slider appears.  When I am feeling adventurous, I use my changeup to see some funny swings.

PBR: The Minutemen had a lot of rainouts and postponements but how did your junior season at Revere go, was it tough to get in a groove with the weather?
Allen: It was an interesting spring to say the least.  The first half of our season was rain or snow, even when we were lucky enough to play; it was either raining, or 40 degrees.  We really persevered well, however, to beat the weather, and some quality baseball teams.  From a pitching standpoint, every routine was broken due to a week or more in between each start, but it taught me many things on the preparation for every start.

PBR: In your area and league there are a lot of good baseball programs, do you feel playing in the northeast prepare you for the next level?
Playing for the Hurricanes has given me the opportunity to play with and against some of the best talent in the area.  The only way to get better is to continue challenging yourself, so the competition really helps.

PBR: How has the summer circuit gone for you as a member of the Northern Ohio Hurricanes?

Allen: I am 5-1 this summer with the Hurricanes in 8 starts.  We are primarily a 17-year-old team playing against mainly 18-year-olds.  This has put a lot of pressure on us, but we still tied for third place in the Diamond league (9-4) and if we keep improving, next year we should be dominant.

 

 

 

PBR: Now that you have pledged to be a Zip have you been busy talking to other student-athletes to head to Akron? What would you tell them to convince them about the program?

Allen: The Akron program has nowhere to go but up, with a few new pieces to the puzzle, great things will happen. I am hoping that some of my Hurricane teammates will join me on the Zips.  Of course coach Rembielak is just getting his bearings back in Ohio, so I look forward to seeing his other recruits when this process is complete.