ILS1
03-30-2007, 07:54 PM
Friday, March 30, 2007
HUTTO — Tonight, Jeremy Kerley is scheduled to take the pitching mound for Hutto High School's baseball team. The game should end about 10 p.m.
Good thing it's a home game, because on Saturday morning, Kerley must be in Pflugerville for a track meet that starts at 8:30 a.m.
If Kerley's lucky, he'll get six hours of sleep tonight. If he's not, maybe four.
Such is life for the multisport athlete.
"I've been doing this since I was 3," said Kerley, a Hutto standout in football, basketball, baseball and track. "It's frustrating at times, really nonstop. But I like doing it."
In an era of specialization among high school athletes hoping to land college scholarships by devoting their time and effort to a single sport, Kerley is a rarity.
Before the advent of AAU basketball, select baseball and 7-on-7 football, prep athletes had to switch sports every season in order to keep playing on a competitive level. That, however, no longer remains the case. Athletes now can compete in one sport, year-round.
"Kids that do participate in several sports and do it the proper way, I think that discipline spills over into other areas in their life," said Mark Cousins, an athletic coordinator for the University Interscholastic League. "It takes a special kind of individual like Jeremy Kerley to do that."
Though Kerley isn't the only Central Texas multisport athlete, he clearly is the most accomplished.
"When you get to high school, you look to improve your abilities and want to play one sport to get to the next level," said Kerley, who stands 5 feet, 10 inches and weighs 170 pounds. "I think playing all the sports makes me better (in each of them). It keeps my competitive edge."
In track, Kerley participates in the high jump, long jump, triple jump and the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams. He has qualified for the state meet in the triple jump the past two years.
In baseball, Kerley — who earned All-Central Texas honors last year as a junior despite not playing his sophomore season — is Hutto's shortstop, batting .511. As a pitcher, he's 3-0 with a 0.62 ERA. That includes a no-hitter against Gatesville two weeks ago.
"I wish there were more of him," said Hippos baseball coach Peter Schmidt. "Kids here play more than one sport, but he excels in all of them."
In basketball, Kerley started at point guard, averaging seven points and five assists a game, earning first-team All-District honors in District 18-3A.
"As good as an athlete he is, he's a better competitor," said Hutto basketball coach Cody Blake. "That's what makes him special. I've never experienced someone who'll compete like he will."
In football, Kerley was a four-year starter at quarterback and defensive back. He was his district's defensive most valuable player as a sophomore, led the Hippos to the Class 3A, Division I state championship game as a junior and earned offensive MVP honors as a senior. He signed a football scholarship with Texas Christian in February, making him the Horned Frogs' only four-star recruit.
"He's the best athlete I've ever seen," said Lee Penland, Hippos football coach and athletic director. "He's topped everyone else."
Kerley, however, isn't planning to stop with football. He said he plans to walk on to the TCU baseball team as well, if he isn't taken and signed in the major league baseball amateur draft in June. Both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds have shown interest.
"I want to be active," Kerley said. "Don't want to let (both football and baseball) go."
Story Link (www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/highschool/03/30/30kerley.html)
HUTTO — Tonight, Jeremy Kerley is scheduled to take the pitching mound for Hutto High School's baseball team. The game should end about 10 p.m.
Good thing it's a home game, because on Saturday morning, Kerley must be in Pflugerville for a track meet that starts at 8:30 a.m.
If Kerley's lucky, he'll get six hours of sleep tonight. If he's not, maybe four.
Such is life for the multisport athlete.
"I've been doing this since I was 3," said Kerley, a Hutto standout in football, basketball, baseball and track. "It's frustrating at times, really nonstop. But I like doing it."
In an era of specialization among high school athletes hoping to land college scholarships by devoting their time and effort to a single sport, Kerley is a rarity.
Before the advent of AAU basketball, select baseball and 7-on-7 football, prep athletes had to switch sports every season in order to keep playing on a competitive level. That, however, no longer remains the case. Athletes now can compete in one sport, year-round.
"Kids that do participate in several sports and do it the proper way, I think that discipline spills over into other areas in their life," said Mark Cousins, an athletic coordinator for the University Interscholastic League. "It takes a special kind of individual like Jeremy Kerley to do that."
Though Kerley isn't the only Central Texas multisport athlete, he clearly is the most accomplished.
"When you get to high school, you look to improve your abilities and want to play one sport to get to the next level," said Kerley, who stands 5 feet, 10 inches and weighs 170 pounds. "I think playing all the sports makes me better (in each of them). It keeps my competitive edge."
In track, Kerley participates in the high jump, long jump, triple jump and the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams. He has qualified for the state meet in the triple jump the past two years.
In baseball, Kerley — who earned All-Central Texas honors last year as a junior despite not playing his sophomore season — is Hutto's shortstop, batting .511. As a pitcher, he's 3-0 with a 0.62 ERA. That includes a no-hitter against Gatesville two weeks ago.
"I wish there were more of him," said Hippos baseball coach Peter Schmidt. "Kids here play more than one sport, but he excels in all of them."
In basketball, Kerley started at point guard, averaging seven points and five assists a game, earning first-team All-District honors in District 18-3A.
"As good as an athlete he is, he's a better competitor," said Hutto basketball coach Cody Blake. "That's what makes him special. I've never experienced someone who'll compete like he will."
In football, Kerley was a four-year starter at quarterback and defensive back. He was his district's defensive most valuable player as a sophomore, led the Hippos to the Class 3A, Division I state championship game as a junior and earned offensive MVP honors as a senior. He signed a football scholarship with Texas Christian in February, making him the Horned Frogs' only four-star recruit.
"He's the best athlete I've ever seen," said Lee Penland, Hippos football coach and athletic director. "He's topped everyone else."
Kerley, however, isn't planning to stop with football. He said he plans to walk on to the TCU baseball team as well, if he isn't taken and signed in the major league baseball amateur draft in June. Both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds have shown interest.
"I want to be active," Kerley said. "Don't want to let (both football and baseball) go."
Story Link (www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/highschool/03/30/30kerley.html)