Last Friday, Travis Murray of Nature Coast Technical High School was talking to folks after his team had lost in the regional semifinal of the Class 4A, Region II Tournament to Pasco, 12-3.
And Murray was a very dejected player. But it is funny how things can change quickly in life.
Three days later, Murray was all smiles as he signed a baseball scholarship to play for Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey.
Murray, a catcher on the Shark team that went 21-7 this year, signed with the community college because of a number of reasons.
"It's local; they've got a good team and I like the baseball coach," said Murray during the signing.
PHCC: better fit
While he did have tryouts this past year with four-year schools like the University of Florida, Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast College, Murray decided that going to a local two-year school was the best path he could take.
"I think it will be easier for me to transfer to a four-year school from there. And their coach has a good record of getting kids into a four-year school," he said.
PHCC Baseball Coach Steve Winterling attended the signing and said he had been keeping tabs on Murray for some time.
"He used to come and play in our winter leagues with the rest of the Nature Coast team and he's a good quality student-athlete," said Winterling. "He comes from a strong program, he's got a good bat, a strong arm and he can play a lot of positions.
"He's also someone I don't have to worry about academically. We'll put him in the best situation and if it's catcher or pitcher, he'll do well."
As a sophomore, Murray was mainly a designated hitter for the Sharks, hitting .342 and making the Hernando Today All-County team.
Then last year as a junior, Murray switched from a designated hitter to a catcher and was tabbed Hernando Today's Player of the Year.
As a pitcher last year, Murray went 7-1 with a 1.24 ERA along with a .369 batting average with one home run and 23 RBI. This year, Murray went 7-3 as a pitcher while leading the county with a batting average over .500.
His current coach, Bob Shepard, said that having Murray as the first player to sign a college scholarship was a good thing.
"I'm proud of Travis, he's worked real hard this year," insisted Shepard. "Last summer, we talked about what he needed to do. He needed to be a leader, to set an example and tone for the rest of the team and he did that.
"This happens when someone does all that and works hard. It's a reward for them," Shepard said.
His father Ed also said that the community deserves some of the credit for what happened Monday to his son.
"It's really been a community effort," said Ed Murray. "He received a lot of help from leagues, sponsors, coaches, teammates and people who helped him with rides."
Murray says while he still is not certain of his future major, he is leaning toward a medical major toward becoming a chiropractor or physician.
"I like to help people," said Travis.
By the Numbers: Travis Murray
- Compiled by CHRIS BERNHARDT, JR.
Hitting
YR GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI .AVG
2005 10 12 06 04 01 00 00 03 .333
2006 25 76 19 26 06 00 02 14 .342
2007 28 84 10 31 08 00 01 23 .369
2008 28 81 29 44 08 03 02 28 .543
TOTAL 91 253 64 105 23 03 05 68 .415
Pitching
YR GP CG IP H R ER BB K W L ERA
2005 04 00 3.2 08 08 04 00 03 00 00 7.65
2006 03 00 6.2 09 08 04 03 08 01 01 4.20
2007 13 03 50.2 41 17 09 23 65 07 01 1.24
2008 10 04 53.0 37 27 14 19 57 07 03 1.85
TOTAL30 07 114.0 95 60 31 45 133 15 05 1.90
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