2013 OF/RHP Cory Garrastazu has committed to Marshall University!
Cory was with the Elite Squad since he was 15 years old and entering his sophomore year. Cory was a big reason and factor in the first National Championship won by our organization. In the summer of 2011 Cory was chosen as a OF/P to play for us. Early on in the summer he experienced some pain in his shoulder that pretty much shut him down for a month during the summer. Once he rested and he was cleared to pitch he constantly wanted the ball. Instead of rushing him back we took it slow, only to drive the competitor that Cory is even more crazy because he wanted to help his team more than anything. A couple weeks before East Cobb ( PG WWBA) he pitched an inning and the game was over because of run rule. You could tell that he was frustrated because he wanted to get back into pitching shape and get that feel of it again. We told Cory that we didn’t know how much else he was going to pitch because we were headed to the WWBA event and every game is a must win. Thinking to ourselves, it isn’t a fair situation to put a kid in a one or two run game with your tournament life on the line that hasn’t had much time on the mound. Even with that said, we told him to be ready because at some point he will be called on and it is going to be in an important spot for his team.
Sure enough his number was called to come in and pitch in what was the biggest game in program history. The day before in East Cobb it poured rain, washing out the sweet 16 round of the playoffs. The rain forced teams to play 4 games total to bring home the title that day. As you can imagine, we had already been there for a week and after the first 3 games that were won, we didn’t have too many arms still left in the tank. That’s when the coaches before the championship game spoke and decided it was Cory’s game and he was going to bring it home. Sometimes you just get those feelings where you believe in a kid, you believe that he wants it and you know he’s prepared for it. Speaking of preparation, although Cory was told we did not know where and when he was going to throw next, you saw him before and after games in the bullpen getting ready and hoping his number was called that day, or the next.
Well, his number was certainly called that day and he delivered. Cory started the game and pitched a complete game 2 hitter (8-0 5inn) to bring home Elite Squad’s first National Championship in program history!!!
Months after, during the school year his father called to tell us that the doctors discovered a partial tear in his labrum requiring surgery heading into his junior summer. It was probably torn since the first time he was shut down but the doctors didn’t discover it at that visit.Instead of getting down and thinking his career was over, Cory worked hard to become a better outfielder and a better hitter, since pitching was pretty much out of the window at this point so that he can accomplish his dreams of playing collegiate baseball.
In life, sometimes we take for granted the things we do on a regular basis or in this instance, the amount of baseball we play and don’t ever realize how much we miss something until its taken away from us. As his former coach and being with Cory for over 2 1/2 years. I personally feel him having the surgery, having to sit out watching his teammates play the game they love, seeing his teammates commit to different colleges motivated him, but more importantly he missed playing the game he loved since he was a little kid. He realized how much baseball was a part of his life. He came back from his surgery almost rejuvenated. Similar as to when something you love so much is taken away from you and then all of a sudden they say “here’s a second chance, what are you going to to with it?” . Talking to Cory he definitely had a different outlook on the game he loved and was a bit of a different person, a more determined person. He rededicated himself and worked harder than I had ever seen him work. Because of that hard work and determination he is where he is at today, part of the Thundering Herd as an outfielder.
We are so proud of Cory and so happy for the Garrastazu family! Congratulations!!!
