On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, North Penn senior Matt Stevenson was recognized for committing to continue his baseball career at Millersville University. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Matt Stevenson – Millersville University (Baseball)
Major: Business Management
Final list of colleges: Millersville, West Virginia, La Salle
Reasons for choosing Millersville: “I really liked the business program they have at Millersville, and I really like the coach. He’s built a great program.”
What was the progression that led you to playing baseball at the collegiate level? “I wanted to play baseball in college since I started playing. It’s always been a dream to continue playing.
“High school sports – it doesn’t let you slack off, and you can’t fall behind. You have to keep working hard, so I think it will be easier to carry into college to keep working hard and not fall behind.”
Coach Kevin Manero says: “I’m very proud to see Matt moving on to Millersville. Matt is a tremendous person, and he’s got a great family. One of the most important things I’ve learned about the Stevenson family is that they really keep everything in perspective, and they understand the purpose of high school athletics. I think understanding why you’re playing sports in high school and what the bigger picture is is super important for every high school to learn. It’s not just about scholarships and winning all the time, but it’s about the lessons you’re learning through the sport you’re competing in. I feel like the Stevensons have always had a real good perspective on that.
“One of the things that Matt’s decided to do is play baseball at a Division II school, and I think that’s also a real important distinction because there are so many people in high school that think it’s D-1 or nothing, and there’s this lure of D-1, just like there’s the lure of schools in the South. A lot of athletes go South and go to these big schools only to transfer somewhere else two years later, so why not get it right the first time.
“Matt is not only going to a Division II school, he’s going to a Division II school that was second in the nation last year in the NCAA Division II World Series, so obviously, they know how to win, and they have expectations, so I think Matt is going to fit in very well there. Matt’s a 6-6 right-handed pitcher, and he’s got a great pitcher’s body. As a sophomore, he came to us in the fall, and we started to get a look at him as a player. We weren’t really sure what position he would play, but last year he evolved into a pitcher. He ended up with a sub 2.30 ERA, which is tremendous for high school. He threw a ton of strikes, a lot of coaches liked him, but coach (Jon) Shehan at Millersville really liked him because he said he’s the kind of pitcher he can bring in there that some of the Division One schools might pass on because he’s not throwing 90 miles an hour yet, but he knows he can turn him into one of those guys after he’s been there a few years. He’s going to a great program with a great coach. He’s a great kid with a great perspective, and for all those reasons, in addition to his physical abilities, I think he’s going to have a tremendous career there.”
About Matt:
Favorite food: Chipotle
Favorite movie: Sandlot
Favorite music: Music varies (Country)
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