So I got this crazy idea to try out for Oregon Tech’s baseball team. Total underdog move, right? But hey, life’s short – might as well swing for the fences.
The Hunt for Tryout Deets
First mission was digging up actual tryout info. Wasted like three days checking random pages before realizing the REAL details hide in the athletics department’s office. Walked into that brick building near the gym feeling like a detective. Some lady at the counter slid me a printout like secret documents – dates, physical requirements, coach contact stuff. Boom.
Key things I scribbled down:
- Tryouts first week of October – rain or shine
- Gotta show current physical & insurance papers
- BP fastballs thrown at scary speeds
- “Team culture fit” matters more than stats
Pre-Tryout Bootcamp Mode
My mitt was collecting dust since high school, so I went full Rocky montage for six weeks. Woke up at 5:30 AM throwing balls against my garage door till neighbors threatened to call cops. Even YouTube’d how to fix my chicken-wing batting stance. Pro tip: hitting off a tee feels dumb until you realize your swing looks like a drunk giraffe.
The worst part? Conditioning. Coach wants mile times under 7 minutes. First time I tried, collapsed at half-mile wheezing like an asthmatic donkey. Started running campus stairs every damn sunset til my legs stopped screaming.
Tryout D-Day
Showed up to the field shaking like a leaf. Twenty other dudes all looking jacked and confident. Old me would’ve bolted to the parking lot. New me? Chugged a disgusting energy drink and marched onto that dirt.
They put us through hell:
- Timed laps around bases – almost puked on third base coach
- Fielding drills with rockets hit at your face
- Live batting against pitchers throwing gas
When I fouled off four straight heaters from their ace, assistant coach actually nodded. Small wins.
The Reality Check
Made the practice squad but not main roster. Sounds brutal but honestly? Best outcome. Coach took me aside afterwards: “Kid, you got heart but mechanics need work. Practice squad trains with us daily – prove yourself.”
Now I’m living that glorified benchwarmer life. Carrying buckets of balls, getting schooled by freshmen during BP, but damn it feels right. Even made team laundry duty kinda fun by challenging guys to sock-basketball shots.
Would I recommend it? Only if you’re cool with failing publicly while giving 110%. That Oregon Tech dirt stains your pants but man… that glove-pop sound? Pure magic.
