Prep Baseball Report

Q&A with College of the Ozarks Commit RHP/1B Isaac Norsic (Hillcrest, 2015)



Shon Plack
Prep Baseball Report

Issac Norsic (Hillcrest, 2015) is a physical 6-foot-1 225-pound RHP/1B and has recently committed to play at College of the Ozarks next season.  On the mound, Norsic has a high ¾ delivery with quick arm speed. He throws with regular effort and is slightly uphill, with a fastball velocity range of 79-84 mph. His curveball was at 67-71 mph with 12/6 shape and late/sharp break. Norsic also displayed a change-up that ranged from 76-77 mph with near fastball arm speed and sink. At the Class of 2015 Prospect Games in August, Norsic showed feel for all of his pitches and had two strikeouts during the game action. 

On the infield, Norsic throws from a high 3/4 arm slot, making accurate throws. He is aggressive and plays through the ball, with a positional velo of 78 mph.  At the plate, Norsic has an athletic setup with a smooth load and long stride. He has fast bat speed and uses his lower half well. Norsic has a level swing that produces gap-to-gap line drives with pull power. He had an exit velo of 93 mph, and gets down in the line in 4.66-seconds. 

Below is a snapshot of how Norsic chose College of the Ozarks.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Norsic: I didn’t really have any expectations in the recruiting process. I was hoping it lead me to be able to play at the next level and acquire a college education.   

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Norsic: Yes, I wanted to stay close to home, and around the area. It was important to me to be close to my family.

PBR: Where did the College of the Ozarks first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Norsic: The assistant coach for C of O saw me play in Bartlesville, Oklahoma for a tournament. I was not contacted by them, nor did I know they had interest in me till the middle of October.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Norsic: I have had the privilege to play against some great players and athletes. I would have to say the best player I faced was Austin Knight from Lebanon.

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Norsic: I was really just looking at a school that had interest in me and offered me a scholarship to where I could get an education.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Norsic: I would say to play the game because you love the game and enjoy the game. Also don’t take the game for granted, just play hard while you can.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Norsic: I try to stay in the weight room and condition, while I hit and get myself prepared for the season.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Norsic: I would say the most memorable moment in my career to this point is just playing with teammates and having fun.   

PBR: What do you like most about College of the Ozarks and what were the key factors in making your decision?

Norsic: What I like most of C of O is it is good Christian school with good morals. It is all about hard work and the fact that you can graduate from their with little or no debt.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

Norsic: The only other school that was interested in me was Sagu in Texas to play baseball and football.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Norsic: The recruiting process never really happened to me. One school contacted me during football season and then after I hurt my knee is when C of O contacted me.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals? Name some players that will play a key role for Hillcrest in 2015.

Norsic: I feel like however much work we put into our season starting now will determine how successful we are in the long run. My expectations and goals are to get my knee healthy and rehab.  Also just getting back on the field with my teammates and play with them in the summer. Our team relies on number 1 through 9 in the lineup to do what they can give us the best chance to win.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

Norsic: I play with our American legion team with Hillcrest. All my experiences with the team were memorable and just being able to play with friends.

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