Around the Diamond: Stars in the Classroom for Pitt
11/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The University of Pittsburgh is a premier school, one that possesses a strong balance of competitive play on the field, as well as opportunities within the classroom. On the field, the Panthers’ pursuit of greatness comes through the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), one of premiere baseball conferences in the country. Meanwhile in the classroom, Pitt contains a plethora of academic opportunities while also being one of the top public research university in the world.
“Pitt brings the entire package when it comes to athletic competition and academic quality,” said redshirt senior Jacob Wright.
It’s a balance that is not an attribute of every school, but it’s prominent at Pitt, and is what drew redshirt junior first baseman Caleb Parry and Wright, an outfielder to Pittsburgh.
“It was my best opportunity, athletically and academically,” said Parry. “I was able to come in my freshman year and compete for a starting position. I didn’t want to go somewhere where I would be redshirting off the bat.”
Parry was able to come in and play, factoring into 26 games as a true freshman, starting in 17 of them. He hit .175 that season.
Both players are expected to take on large roles for the baseball team this upcoming season, one that returns four starters from its most used lineup last season, including Parry and Wright. That extends to leadership on the team as well.
“Most of the seniors have been stepping up in that regard. I try to lead by example, and hold people accountable too, when necessary,” said Parry.
Last season, Parry hit .277 with two home runs and 22 runs batted in, playing 42 games and starting in 37 of them.
Wright batted .235, appearing in 50 contests, earning the start in 47 of them. He was often employed out of left field and had three home runs and 25 runs batted in. The season prior to that, his first at Pitt after transferring in from St. Petersburg College, he hit .282 while starting 49 games.
While the two players bring a good deal of experience to the ball club for younger players to learn from, they are no slouches when it comes to learning in the classroom either.
As expected, some of that leadership extends to having a book in their hands, and not a bat.
“I’ve always tried to be a source of wisdom for the younger guys, especially when it comes to academic things. Things such as scheduling classes and what classes to take, and try to talk to them about it because it can really make it easier during the semester, especially when we are in season,” said Wright.
Parry and Wright, both biology majors, have a 3.6 and 3.8 GPAs, respectively, both strong showings for pre-med majors that are also playing a sport at the highest collegiate level.
The University of Pittsburgh’s Academic Support Services provides tutors to its student-athletes, which were useful to both players in their first few years on campus.
“They always say when you come to college you have to choose two between social life, academics and sleep. So with us, you have to throw in another factor with baseball, and we have to choose two out of four. So for me, it’s just academics and baseball,” said Parry.
“It definitely tough. It’s almost like living a double life. When you apply to graduate schools, they expect you to have that as your primary focus and when you’re on an athletic team, that’s also expected to be your primary focus. It’s definitely been hard and I’ve learned a lot of time management skills,” said Wright.
Parry is planning on attending dental school, while Wright will be applying to medical schools following this season. The duo have bright futures ahead of them and are goal-oriented in both the classroom and on the field.
“Individually, I want to make the ACC Academic Team and the Academic All-Region Team. On the field, it’s always been a goal to hit above .300,” said Parry.
Both players cited that getting to the ACC Tournament for the first time in program history is what they have their sights set on.
The Panthers begin their season in early February, as manager Joe Jordano, in his 20th season at the helm, tries to lead his ball club to secure an ACC Tournament berth.
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