Parkside baseball trio, swimmer sign college letters

For several high school students, Wednesday marked just another typical school day. But for three Parkside baseball players and a swimmer, it marked the official beginning of life after high school.

Baseball players Sean Fisher, Grant Burleson and Connor Shockley, as well as Bloomsburg swimming commit Lindsay Mooney, all put pen to paper Wednesday afternoon, extending their athletic career to the collegiate level.

“It’s feels good for all my hard work to finally pay off,” Shockley said. “All the years of going out in games and working hard, and now I’m ready to go to the next level.”

Shockley, an infielder who mainly plays at the shortstop position, signed with the University of South Carolina Sumter, where the coaching staff and overall location were the determining factors in his decision.

“I like the south, I like warm weather and I like the coach. He’s a good guy, he’s got some good connections and I think he can help me get a (championship) ring,” Shockley said.

While Shockley will head nine hours south from Salisbury, both Burleson and Fisher decided to stay closer to home.

The duo of pitchers committed to the University of Maryland College Park, a school that recruited former Rams pitcher Hunter Parsons just two years prior.

“I never thought growing up I’d be in a position to get a Division I offer, and the coaching staff, campus and the atmosphere up there just made it an easy choice,” Burleson said.

Despite already having a clear path after their senior year concludes, both Fisher and Burleson have set personal goals they would like to achieve before their time in the green and white runs out.

“I want 60 (strikeouts),” Fisher said. “Limit the walks obviously, but I want those strikeouts.”

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The athleticism from all three players was recognized not just by the schools that recruited them, but also by the coaches they’ve played against.

The trio of seniors were all named pre-season all state players by the MSABC – a vote by each baseball coach in the state prior to the season, displaying the level of talent the Rams have on their roster going into the 2017 season.

Parkside head coach Brian Hollamon believes having the skill and leadership of Fisher, Shockley and Burleson, along with the talent from the rest of the team, sets Parkside up for a good chance to repeat as Bayside Champs.

“They’re looking forward to getting started and really performing,” Hollamon said. “The goal is to come out this year and play some good, quality baseball throughout the regular season, and then ramp it up even more when the playoffs come around.”

Along with his staff, Hollamon has attempted to create a college-like atmosphere for the team to help prepare them to make the jump from high school to college.

“We look at other programs and try and develop a plan for those guys to be successful at the next level so they’re not shell shocked when their put in a position where they’re expected to do certain things,” Hollamon said.

Hollamon’s influence, the guidance from their teammates and family have also helped boost their confidence and make them believe they have what it takes to play at the collegiate level.

“They push me every day and make me believe I can be the best,” Fisher said.

With still nearly eight months between now and graduation, all three players are looking to the future, but realize there is still work to be done at Parkside.

The team will start its season in early March where they will hope to win a second straight Bayside championship, as well as make a push for a state championship.

With this being their last year, it will be the last chance the trio has of winning it all while playing for the same school.

“I just want to go out and make a statement with this team. We’ve had the talent all four years I’ve been here, and now’s the time to win it all,” Shockley said.