National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.
If you are ready to take your recruiting to the next level, click the Get Scouted button below to be evaluated by an NSR College Scout.
Get Scouted Scouting CareersNational Scouting Report scouts worldwide often have prospects that are honored with feature articles in local and regional newspapers and Web sites. Tom Sydeski, an NSR scout covering the Rochester, New York, area has yet another one of his prospects, Casey MacClaren, highlighted in the popluar Section V Fan online page. Below see the interesting interview with Casey.
Recruiting Answers with Casey MacClaren
Name: Casey MacClaren
High School: McQuaid Jesuit
Sport & Position: Baseball RHP
Favorite Athlete: Mariano Rivera
Favorite Professional Team: Yankees
College you selected: Cazenovia College
Major in College: Business/Sports Management
When did you start playing baseball? I have been playing since I was old enough to join t-ball, so 12 years.
Who or what influenced you to start? I started playing because all the other neighborhood kids were playing and my parents signed me up! I started pitching when I was around 10 and that is what made me want to continue playing.
When did you first realize, “Hey I’m pretty good at baseball, maybe I’ll try to pursue it after High School”? Did a coach, parent, or friend speak with you? When I was a Freshman, I was able to play up on the Sophomore JV Gold team. I got a starting pitching spot that year. My coach, Brian Craig, worked with me with pitching and said that he could see I had the drive and talent to continue past high school ball.
What kind of work do you put in during your off season? I play games for as long as possible into the fall. While off the field in the winter months, I condition and attend workouts two to three times a week, and attend indoor throwing/fielding practices two to three times a week. I train at Valle Sports. I see Dr. Nick Schaumberger, a chiropractor, to get rid of any knots and get my body ready for the next season.
How did you first pursue playing “at the next level”? Did you contact coaches? Attend Clinics? Or simply wait for coaches to call you? I started attending clinics on my own in 9th grade. After I met Mr. Sydeski and signed up with NSR as a sophomore, I let the program work for me. NSR’s video allowed me to be seen by coaches across the country. Mr. Sydeski helped me navigate the process so that I contacted coaches at the right times and he also reached out for me.
Can you share with us why you selected Cazenovia College? I chose Caz over my other Div III offers primarily because Coach Way is straight forward and honest. Also, I will have the opportunity to pitch as a freshman instead of sitting the bench for a year or more. Thanks to NSR, I had a number of offers to choose from, at all different levels. Caz offered me a great financial package and they have a challenging honors program that will allow me to make the most of my McQuaid education.
How has the National Scouting Report and Tom Sydeski helped you in the process of playing at the next level? If it hadn’t been for Mr. Sydeski and NSR I might never have known about the opportunity to play at Caz. Mr. Sydeski set up a time for Coach Way to attend one of my summer games for Valle Baseball. Coach Way came to see me throw and afterwards we spoke, which set the ball in motion. Mr. Sydeski also met with me frequently to answer questions about NCAA rules and the NSR process. He encouraged me to keep my grades a priority and as a result I was accepted at every university I applied to.
SVTB – Casey worked the NSR game plan to his advantage and followed up on every opportunity. He’s a studious young man who takes his academics and baseball seriously. Once he visited campus, spent time with his future teammates, and spoke with Coach Way he knew this is the college for him. Casey has a wonderful opportunity to see playing time early in his collegiate baseball career. Best of luck to you Casey as a Cazenovia College Wildcat.
Who or what influenced you to start? I started playing because all the other neighborhood kids were playing and my parents signed me up! I started pitching when I was around 10 and that is what made me want to continue playing.
When did you first realize, “Hey I’m pretty good at baseball, maybe I’ll try to pursue it after High School”? Did a coach, parent, or friend speak with you? When I was a Freshman, I was able to play up on the Sophomore JV Gold team. I got a starting pitching spot that year. My coach, Brian Craig, worked with me with pitching and said that he could see I had the drive and talent to continue past high school ball.
What kind of work do you put in during your off season? I play games for as long as possible into the fall. While off the field in the winter months, I condition and attend workouts two to three times a week, and attend indoor throwing/fielding practices two to three times a week. I train at Valle Sports. I see Dr. Nick Schaumberger, a chiropractor, to get rid of any knots and get my body ready for the next season.
How did you first pursue playing “at the next level”? Did you contact coaches? Attend Clinics? Or simply wait for coaches to call you? I started attending clinics on my own in 9th grade. After I met Mr. Sydeski and signed up with NSR as a sophomore, I let the program work for me. NSR’s video allowed me to be seen by coaches across the country. Mr. Sydeski helped me navigate the process so that I contacted coaches at the right times and he also reached out for me.
Can you share with us why you selected Cazenovia College? I chose Caz over my other Div III offers primarily because Coach Way is straight forward and honest. Also, I will have the opportunity to pitch as a freshman instead of sitting the bench for a year or more. Thanks to NSR, I had a number of offers to choose from, at all different levels. Caz offered me a great financial package and they have a challenging honors program that will allow me to make the most of my McQuaid education.
How has the National Scouting Report and Tom Sydeski helped you in the process of playing at the next level? If it hadn’t been for Mr. Sydeski and NSR I might never have known about the opportunity to play at Caz. Mr. Sydeski set up a time for Coach Way to attend one of my summer games for Valle Baseball. Coach Way came to see me throw and afterwards we spoke, which set the ball in motion. Mr. Sydeski also met with me frequently to answer questions about NCAA rules and the NSR process. He encouraged me to keep my grades a priority and as a result I was accepted at every university I applied to.
SVTB – Casey worked the NSR game plan to his advantage and followed up on every opportunity. He’s a studious young man who takes his academics and baseball seriously. Once he visited campus, spent time with his future teammates, and spoke with Coach Way he knew this is the college for him. Casey has a wonderful opportunity to see playing time early in his collegiate baseball career. Best of luck to you Casey as a Cazenovia College Wildcat.
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.