For Josh Croft, baseball is his life. He swung his first bat at five, and ever since, has played throughout BC and the northern United States. Now, the Powell River resident will be travelling to Houston, Texas, to swing a bat at bigger leagues.
At the end of August, Croft, 18, will make his way down to San Jacinto Junior College, where he has received a full scholarship to play ball with the San Jacinto Gators.
“It’s everything I’ve been working for for the past few years and it’s going to help get me where I want to go,” Croft explained.
San Jacinto is the equivalent of a community college in Canada, which means Croft will only be able to play two years before transferring. After his two years, during which he said he’d probably take general studies, Croft hopes to move to a four-year school. Another hope is to eventually make it into the draft and be picked up professionally.
Croft applied to other schools in the states, but said that San Jacinto’s offer was by far the best. His scholarship covers tuition, housing and food. “Just on weekends we have to fend for ourselves,” he laughed.
San Jacinto also offered a great opportunity in terms of ball play. The Gators travel throughout Texas and into other southern states. The team is one of the top ranked in the National Junior College Athletics Association.
But with this level of play comes a price. Croft’s friends already attending the school say the team practices four to five hours a day. “They say it’s crazy,” said Croft. “It’s so much to do.”
Once season starts in January, the team spends much of its time travelling to games.
Croft is used to life on the road though. He has travelled throughout BC during his baseball career. After playing with Parksville Royals for three years, Croft moved to Kelowna to play on the Okanagan Athletics team in the Premier Baseball League.
His past baseball experience also includes playing with Team BC for three years, during which he travelled around Canada to participate in the Canada Cup.
Croft’s position is as an in-fielder. He is able to play any of the bases, or shortstop, but his real value is in leadership. “I just try and keep the team excited, try not to let anybody get down,” he said. “Just try to be a team leader.”
The baseball community is tight knit, especially in BC, explained Croft. He got his scholarship on the recommendation of someone he had played for who knew a coach at the college. Croft already knows players on the team, including Texada Island native Clayton Isherwood.
Since he started at five, Croft has had a passion for playing ball. “I just fell in love with it as soon as I started,” he explained. “I just enjoy the game, doing it well, fans, everything.”
He has always aimed to play in the states, and Texas, he explained, is a great place for baseball. “It’s pretty much a hotspot there,” he explained. “All around the southern border, it’s really good ball.”
The athlete has never been to Texas before, but he is absolutely ecstatic for the opportunity. “I’m just excited to be playing some of the top prospects in America,” he said. “I’ll be playing the best baseball I can.”
