Bradley Shaban committed to James Madison for baseball. His senior season is upcoming.
by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
A few weeks ago,
Ryan Parker had no idea what college he would be going to.
That's fine if Parker had eligibility left at Cosby, but he had graduated from high school almost two months ago.
"Everyone knew where they were going to school," Parker said. "My family started to get upset because every time we had a game, people would ask them where I was going to school. We had no idea. I had no offers."
So Parker said his mother called Seton Hall to let them know about her son. Good news. The Pirates were still recruiting and needed an infielder.
Seton Hall got a hold of some film and saw Parker in person in the final regular-season game of the American Legion season.
"I had a pretty bad game," Parker said. "I went 0 for 3. I was really nervous in the game. But they took a chance on me. They signed me right after the game."
The rocket-armed third baseman has been on a tear ever since as one of the key cogs in South Richmond Post 137's powerful offensive machine that registered a state championship.
They'll continue their American Legion quest Thursday at Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights at 4:30 p.m. versus West Virginia champion Morgantown Post 2 (29-11). Delaware champion Newark will face host Colonial Heights Post 284 afterward.
Parker's not the only South Richmonder to have decided on a school.
Bradley Shaban, a top-notch middle infielder, has decided on James Madison.
He has another year remaining at Cosby and has unfinished business with Post 137, while working in football practice for the Titans. He's a quarterback.
"I kept my options open, but I was very pleased with everything JMU had to offer me," Shaban said. "I just fell in love with it a year ago. I like the school, I like the academics. The baseball team is just a plus."
Said Parker: "I knew going into 137 that we had a core group. Everyone's played together before. We just jell together. We have kind of a goal, and that's winning it all. It's magical, our season right now."