Junior Dane Rombach waited in the on deck circle as senior Ryan Dean battled up at the plate. As time came for Rombach to stroll to the plate for his at bat, in the process of getting mentally focused, only thinking about driving a double to the right center gap. Being Rombach’s first year on varsity, he doesn’t show it as he walks up to the box, ready to battle the pitcher for that double.
“I love varsity. It’s different than JV, and the team is more fun all around,” Rombach said.
So far they have a record of seven wins and three losses being against Cedar Hill, Mansfield and South Grand Prairie. The past two years, the team has gone to the playoffs going three rounds deep in 2010 and going two rounds in 2011. Tied right now with Cedar Hill for second the team only has five more district games left in the season.
“I feel good about this years team,” Rombach said. “We started off a little bit slow but we’re starting to get going in the right direction.”
The odds of playing college baseball becomes very slim as years go by and only one out of every 10 players gets the opportunity. Created to give the athletes who are looking to play the next level after high school, college baseball gives those athletes the chance to fulfill their dream of making it to the major leagues. Although most players don’t make it to the majors, it gives every player the chance and keeps their hope alive as they work for their degree.
“I think college ball would be a good experience and would help me get to the next level,” Rombach said.
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has one of the best baseball programs in Texas, behind University of Texas at Austin and Texas Christian University (TCU). UTA this year has 20 wins and 12 losses, but only have about half of the season left to play. UTA has had several players go pro, including Trey Hillman in 1985, Hunter Pence in 2004 and Michael Choice in 2010. Rombach plans on going to UTA for this reason.
“For me to play college ball, I would really like to play at UTA because they have a great baseball program and it’s close to home,” Rombach said.
