March 15, 2007

By Mark Shugar

ATHENS, Ohio - Freshman Jeremie Rehak came to Ohio University striving for what most athletes want when they make the transition from high school to college. He wanted a chance to keep playing at the next level.

Rehak left Franklin Regional High School in Pittsburgh, Pa., still hungry to play baseball after leading the Panthers to a Sectional title. His passion for the game showed in the form of a .490 batting average, a .600 on-base percentage and 10 stolen bases during his senior campaign.

But as far as landing a scholarship to play baseball at a Division I college, Rehak came up short. His desire to keep playing baseball, however, never faded away.

"I just loved playing baseball in high school," Rehak said. "I wasn't planning on starting or getting playing time. I just wanted to be part of the team."

A visit to Ohio University provided just such an opportunity.

Rehak stopped into Ohio's baseball office while visiting Athens and spoke with pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Andrew See. He gave Rehak the same speech he gives to countless hopefuls each season.

See you at tryouts.

"Guys will contact us," said Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone. "I've got a whole big cabinet full of letters kids have written to us. But by then we have already given all of our scholarship money away for next year's guys.

"So when the kids write to us saying they want to come to OU and be a part of the baseball program, we basically say, `We are having tryouts and we will evaluate your skills on the field."

The translation -- no promises.

The risky situation is one Carbone is familiar with, having gotten his start with the Bobcats as a walk-on in 1966.

Carbone said he was one of about 150 players to try out for the team that season and he had to compete against 11 other players for the second base position. The experience quickly taught Carbone a lesson he has tried to pass on to players who have tried out to play for the Bobcats.

"Your high school grades and ACT scores may have gotten you into Ohio University, but when you get here you don't have a grade point average," Carbone said. "It's the same thing with baseball. What you did in high school may have been all well and good, but it doesn't mean anything."

Regardless, the Bobcats' walk-ons in recent years have shown that having a scholarship is not a prerequisite to being a great baseball player.

Pitcher Yale Silverman, once a walk-on and now a student assistant with the team, finished his career with Ohio last season. He posted a 3.36 ERA through 48 games and 160 innings pitched.

And that was after being cut for two seasons.

Rehak, like walk-ons before him, had to prove himself in tryouts but credits the Ohio coaching staff and his teammates for making the experience a pleasant one.

"The team was great," Rehak said. "I feel like I've been here since I was a senior (in high school)."

One aspect of the game Rehak said changed dramatically was the curve ball opposing pitchers and teammates were hurling in his direction.

"It curves a lot harder and faster now," he said.

The good news for the Bobcats is that Rehak has been able to adjust quickly.

Rehak hit .297 through nine games this season, a mark that has dropped to .257 over the past four games, but he continues to do the little things that make a leadoff hitter important. He has scored nine runs this season and has also walked five times and been hit by two pitches for a .381 on-base percentage.

He has also been a threat to steal bases and has swiped three bags in five attempts this year. Carbone said it is what he expects from his lead-off batter.

"His role is to get on base," he said. "He doesn't have a lot of power, but he bunts the ball well, he can sacrifice and he hits for a base hit.

Rehak's efforts also help spark the Bobcats.

"He brings some energy at the top of our lineup," Carbone said. "Guys get excited when he gets on base."

Not a bad contribution to get from a player who gets his energy from being able to keep playing the game he loves.