Dominic Edwards, a right-handed pitcher from Mentor High School, committed to St. Bonaventure early in the summer. PBR recently caught up with the talented prospect to learn more about his decision.

   

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Edwards: Kent State University.  I narrowed my college choices to two, St. Bonaventure and Kent State University.  My Mom and Dad graduated from KSU and I attended several instructional camps there when I was younger and two prospect camps recently.

PBR: When you decided to give your pledge to St. Bonaventure, what were the days leading up to it like, what were your
last thoughts before making the decision?

Edwards: I was very happy that I was being recruited by one of the two colleges I was pursuing.  I knew how much time and practice I committed to pitching since I was ten years old and was excited and very appreciative to be chosen to play at the Division I college level.

PBR: Ultimately why did you choose to be a Bonnie?

Edwards: I attended a camp at St. Bonaventure last fall and really liked Coach Sudbrook and the campus.  I am an outdoorsman and enjoy hunting and fishing.  The area in which St. Bonaventure is located is surrounded by hills, trees and the Allegheny River just behind the baseball field.  Also, the baseball field is artificial turf, which I liked a lot.

PBR: You have a cousin, Zac, that will be a freshman at St. Bonaventure this year. What type of insight did he provide in either what the school had to offer and during the recruiting process?

Edwards: Zac and his Dad (Uncle Jim) gave me great insight into the recruiting process and especially head coach Larry Sudbrook’s attention to details to ensure an easy recruiting process at St. Bonaventure.  Zac strongly endorses the St. Bonaventure baseball program and coaching staff and that made me much more comfortable in my decision to play baseball at St. Bonaventure.

PBR: Does knowing you will have Zac there provide a bit of comfort, and gave the school and edge in the recruitment?

Edwards: Yes, definitely.  Zac and I have very similar personalities and we will definitely hang-out and help each other at St. Bonaventure.  It will be nice to have Zac at St. Bonaventure a year before me so that he can give me tips about St. Bonaventure classes, professors and baseball program.

PBR: How do you view the season you had as individually and as a team for Mentor on your way to the district championship game?

Edwards: I had a great year of pitching this past spring.  I had a .73 ERA.  I credit a lot of my success to my teammates…they were very good defensively and our offense usually generated enough runs to win…I was very fortunate.  I pitched against Brush High School to get us to the next game against Willoughby South.  I just pounded the strike zone against Brush and knew that I had a phenomenal defense behind me and an offense to generate the runs.  I believe I learned to pitch instead of just throw the ball this year and I controlled the running game by developing a good pick-off move to first base. Again, the 2010 Mentor High School team was so great as friends and teammates, which made the season free and easy, we were never worried about any team.

PBR: Heading into the summer, knowing it was critical for your college recruitment, what did you set to do, and what was your mindset going into summer ball?

Edwards: I knew that this summer (going into my senior year) would be critical to my further development as a pitcher and to showcase my abilities for the colleges that I was pursuing.  The summer allowed me to give the colleges I was pursuing a schedule so that they could come to a game and watch me pitch.  My parents and I were very happy that one of the two colleges I was pursuing was interested in having me verbally commit to play baseball for them.

PBR: Are you a fan more of the showcases or tournaments?

Edwards: Definitely showcases.  I only attended showcases at a college in which I wanted to attend whether I played baseball or not.  The showcase seems much more personal.  The college coaches seem very focused on you when it is your turn to perform at a showcase. Although the showcases can be extremely lengthy and very hot during the summer and early fall, I feel being put on a stage like that simulates game situations and allowed me to show my best abilities.

PBR: Now that the summer is over, what sticks out the strongest and what will you remember most?

Edwards: I will remember my teammates from high school and summer.  We had a lot of fun during summer baseball staying at hotels together as a team.  Being at a tournament with roommates from the team helped me mature and realize that this is similar to what I will experience in college.  My teammates and coaches became my second family and I spent more time with them than my Mom, Dad and brother.

PBR: Going into your senior year, what’s it going to be like knowing where you’re going to college, and that you’ll be a big man on campus?

Edwards: I am sure expectations are higher for me now that I am a Division I baseball recruit.  I certainly have higher expectations for myself and will work very hard to achieve that 90mph fastball as a senior in high school.  I am planning workouts with a personal trainer to work on strengthening my abdomen, back and legs.  And, of course, I will continue to train with my pitching trainer every weekend.  At St. Bonaventure, I will strive to be considered at least one of the “big men on campus” as baseball and basketball there is so respected and attended.  I am sure on a small campus such as St. Bonaventure, everyone will know when I pitch well.  But, when I arrive at St. Bonaventure, I definitely do not expect to have anything handed to me, I am fully prepared to work as hard as possible both in the classroom and on the field to be successful at the college level. I really look forward to using my senior year to prepare for a dream that I have had since I was young…to play Division I college baseball and, eventually move on to the next level…major league baseball.