Selecting a college is one of the toughest decisions a high school ball player has to make. USSSA National Team member, Cre Finfrock of Jensen Beach Florida, is no exception. The Jensen Beach High School sophomore has recently committed to the University of Central Florida. The commitment came just after the completion of a successful high school season where he had just over a 1.00 ERA, and was solid offensively. He helped lead his team to a 19-7 record.
Finfrock and ABR recently spoke with Cre on his college selection process and his journey with ABR, which ultimately led him to two National Teams. He will be representing the USSSA National Team this June in Prague and in the USSSA Gold Medal Games in July.
Finfrock first heard of ABR through his summer travel coach, George Gonzales (FTB Mizuno), who urged him to accept a direct invitation by ABR into the USSSA All-American Games.
“I loved the USSSA All American Games, it was great to see all the talent and kids. I have played at those fields before so I felt very comfortable.”
And very comfortable he was. The 90mph RHP, did nothing less than impress at the USSSA All-American Games. Not only was he awarded USSSA All-American Honors and named to the 2012 15u USSSA National Team, but he was also called up to fulfill a roster spot on the USSSA High School Varsity National Team who will be competing in the Prague Baseball Week in Prague, CR. The event will feature some of the top European National Teams as well as other top competition from around the world.
Finfrock looks most forward to winning while representing USSSA in Prague next month. He wants the other countries to look back and talk about how good the young American team was. His hopes are to go out there and throw the best he’s ever thrown before. To prepare for his upcoming National Team competition as well as his season, Finfrock has been working with hitting coach, Kurt Abbott. His main priority is keeping his swing in order and taking a lot of repetitions. As for pitching, he works with coach Rusty Meachem on mechanics, who has been putting him through a long toss program.
The intricate training seems to be paying off. Although only a sophomore, Finfrock is one of the top players and most highly sought after recruits in the country. After weighing his options, he has committed to UCF where he will be primarily a pitcher.
“It was really tough at first. I started by narrowing it down to 10 schools …When I saw UCF, I loved it and everything seemed right. I later met with the coaches in their office and they offered me,” explains Finfrock on his college decision.
With the talented player he is, it would not be a surprise to see Cre Frinfrock in the 2014 MLB Draft.
“Honestly, I want to get drafted out of high school. I really like UCF so everything has to be prefect. If it isn’t perfect then I want to go to school and try to get taken at a higher round. Education is definitely important,” explains Finfrock.
The young player certainly has his head in the right place and the talent to carry him to the next level. The future definitely looks bright for Cre Finfrock
* Editor’s Note: Cre wanted to thank his hitting coach Kurt Abbottt and pitching coach Rusty Meachem for their help. They are a large factor in his success today.