On Thursday, Nov. 16, 2024, Central Bucks East seniors Sam Bliss, Chase Harlan, Jack Mislan & Reece Moody were recognized for committing to compete in collegiate baseball.
Sam Bliss – Dickinson College (Baseball)
Major: Economics
Final list of colleges: Dickinson, Catholic University, Washington & Lee, Rochester Institute of Technology
Reasons for choosing Dickinson: “The suburban fit felt right at home – it felt like growing up in Doylestown. It’s pretty similar. The coach – Coach (Craig) Hanson – seemed like an awesome guy and a guy I wanted to play for, and the facilities were really nice – I thought I could get better.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “Around the time I was 13 or 14, I started to take it a lot more seriously, and I realized I wanted to do it for as long as I could. It was really important to me.”
Coach Kyle Dennis says: “In the 1980s and 1990s, there was a pitcher named Orel Hershiser. His nickname was Bulldog. In 1989 when asked to describe his pitching style, Orel said this, ‘I have a sinking fastball to either side of the plate, a cutter, which changes the direction of my fastball, so it breaks instead of sinking, to either side of the plate, a curveball I throw at three speeds and three angles, a straight change – using the same arm speed and position as a fastball but with a grip and a release that it slows dramatically, and changeups to different locations that I throw off my sinker which looks like batting practice fastballs.”
“There probably aren’t many people that could process that entire run-on sentence and understand its significance. One of those is Sam, and he is visualizing each of those pitches in his head. Sam is a weapon on the mound. His arsenal – as dynamic as Orel’s – combined with his meticulous approach and detail-oriented nature sets him apart from many other high school arms. He can throw any pitch in any count and attacks relentlessly. He is a fiery competitor. He showed extreme toughness last season starting in our toughest games and pitching on short rest in relief. He is our Bulldog.”
About Sam:
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite TV show: The Shining
Favorite music: Rock
Chase Harlan – Clemson University (Baseball)
Major: Sports Communication
Final list of colleges: Clemson, Vanderbilt, University of North Carolina, Georgia Tech
Reasons for choosing Clemson: “The coaching staff was very open to me. They really wanted me to go there, and they were one of the first schools to reach out to me. As soon as I got to campus, the head coach – Coach (Erik) Bakich – gave me a rundown of the program. He made it seem like a family, and that’s what I want to be part of, just that family program.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “It all goes back to when I was three years old – as soon as I could pick up a baseball bat, I started swinging it. I just fell in love with it and continued playing it as I was growing up. It really became a reality my sophomore year – I was working really hard, and I had a lot of schools interested in me. I actually ended up committing to Cincinnati. I decommitted from there this past summer because they had a coaching change, and then I opened my options back up and went to Clemson.”
Coach Kyle Dennis says: “’That season, I decided I am sick of this, I’m not playing on the JV team next year. Something has to change. So, I decided to work my butt off. I was in the gym five days a week. I was hitting every single day. I didn’t want anyone to outwork me.’ This was the thought process of 14-year-old, 5-10, 170-pound Chase Harlan, spoken by the 17-year-old 6-3, 210-pound Chase Harlan in an interview earlier this year. I believe every word of it. He returned for his sophomore season 20 pounds stronger and with an elite swing. He didn’t just have the desire to prove himself. A lot of guys don’t like their status or situation. Some complain, some work to improve it. The truly elite embrace the challenge, work towards a goal, achieve it and then move the goal post further to challenge themselves. Chase is an elite athlete, and we are thrilled to watch him this year.”
About Chase:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite TV show: Friends
Favorite artist: Gunna
Jack Mislan – Lafayette College (Baseball)
Major: Psychology or Marketing
Final list of colleges: Lafayette, West Point, Binghamton, Yale, Brown, Penn, Bucknell, Boston College
Reasons for choosing Lafayette: “The coaches – I bonded with them immediately, and the campus itself was beautiful. It has high academics, it had the majors I was looking for, and on my visit, the coaches and the team were very welcoming. It felt like I was already part of the team when I went on my first visit.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “When I was young, I played a lot of sports. I swam, played baseball, played basketball and soccer like everybody else does, and then starting in middle school, I went down to baseball and swimming, and I was a better swimmer than I was a baseball player. My dad wanted me to try out for a summer baseball team. I didn’t want to – I wanted to swim and not play baseball anymore, but he made me go. Luckily enough, I found my favorite coaches there. I’m glad I kept playing because this is where I am now.”
Coach Kyle Dennis says: “It’s the top of the first inning on May 11, 2006, with the bases loaded. Xavier Nady gets ahold of a Gavin Floyd fastball that looks like it could clear the fence at Citizens Bank Park. But what followed was Aaron Rowand making one of the greatest catches, in not only Phillies history, but all of baseball. With no padding on the front of the bullpen wall, Rowand didn’t skip a beat gong towards the ball, crashing into the wall, made the catch, recorded the out and broke his nose in the process. In an interview that followed, Rowand, was asked about the catch by reporters. He said, ‘For who? My teammates. And for what? To win.’
“This story reminds me of Jack Mislan. He is selfless and willing to do anything necessary to help the team win. He plays the outfield and runs the bases – all gas, no brakes. He will figuratively and literally run through a fence to make a play for his teammates. Tough, gritty, intense on the field with a great sense of humor and work ethic off the field - we are blessed to have Jack roaming our outfield for a fourth consecutive year doing amazing things.”
About Jack:
Favorite food: BLT
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite artist: Zach Bryan/Country Music
Reece Moody – James Madison University (Baseball)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: JMU, West Virginia, Maine, Villanova
Reasons for choosing JMU: “I just felt it was right when I was there. It was the school I liked best, and I really liked all the coaches as well.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “Honestly, when I was younger, baseball was my least favorite sport, and I thought I was better at the others, but as I got older and progressed through sports, I realized that baseball was my best sport. In ninth grade, after my first varsity season, I was like – I think this is what I want to do, so I stuck with it and decided to pursue that.”
Coach Kyle Dennis says: “In a book called The Energy Bus, a man named George is facing various challenges in his personal and professional life. He is introduced to a bus driver named Joy, who introduces him to the concept of the book. One of the first tenants George learns is that you are the driver of your own bus. This means that you take control of your life, and you are responsible for your own happiness and success. Later in the book, George learns that enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride.
“Reece Moody, our two-year starting shortstop, missed his entire junior season due to injury. But he made a choice to stay involved and bring an unmatched level of enthusiasm and energy to our bus. As a team, we were struggling, but with the help of Reece’s enthusiasm, we turned a corner and had a strong finish to last season. I truly believe that our season would have finished entirely differently without Reece’s presence. We are thrilled that Reece is returning for us for his senior year and are excited to jump on the ‘energy bus’ with him.”
About Reece:
Favorite food: Wings
Favorite TV show: Breaking Bad
Favorite artist: Travis Scott
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