Q&A with Fordham commit Billy Godrick

April 27, 2015

By Jerry Shank
Maryland Director of Scouting

Spalding outfielder Billy Godrick committed to Fordham last year. The quick and athletic outfielder took some time out with PBR Maryland to talk about his decision.

What was the recruiting process like for you?

+ The recruiting process was definitely a fun and exciting process to go through. At times it can get a little stressful, and it's important to get started early. I learned that rather than waiting for everyone to find you, you need to take initiative and reach out to schools that you're interested in. Through it all, the best way to play is just relax, have fun, play the game hard, and not worry about who's in the stands.

What were the key factors you were looking for in your school?

+ I was looking for a school where I would be comfortable both athletically and academically. At Fordham, I plan to pursue a major in business, and what better place to do so than in New York City. On the diamond the coaching staff is one that I'm already comfortable with and one I know I'll be confident playing under. They're ready to lead us to a championship and I look forward to stepping in as early as I can and doing whatever it is to help the team succeed. Also, Fordham is a school with over 150 years of tradition, and it's going to be pretty cool to be a part of the winningest baseball program in NCAA history.

When did things heat up in your recruitment?

+ For me things really started to heat up towards the end of the summer of my sophomore year. I performed well at a few camps and got hot at the right time during game action.

When did you realize that you were a college caliber baseball player?

+ I've always had aspirations of playing college baseball, and continuously worked as hard as I can to achieve that goal. I believe what separates a good baseball player from a great baseball player is work ethic. I've always had tremendous support from coaches and teammates that were confident I'd play at the next level.

What was the biggest factor in the school you finally chose to attend?

+ Academics. Fordham offers me great educational opportunities, while at the same time gives me a chance to compete in the Atlantic 10, a conference that I believe is a great fit for me.

What other schools were you considering?

+ Other A-10 members, schools along the East Coast, and some Big Ten and CAA programs.

What has been the biggest moment in your baseball career?

+ To this point, it without a doubt would be winning the MIAA "A" Conference Championship in 2014. Our team at Spalding really came together and accomplished a lot this past season, and we look forward to accomplishing even more this year. The feeling in that dogpile after the final out is one I will never forget, nor will I forget the 138-pitch, lights out performance by Jordan Carr in that game.

Who do you play for over the summer? Why did you decide to play for them?

+ Rawlings A's Prospects. We receive the best instruction the state and our coaches are dedicated to spending time working with us day in and day out. Their main focus is not only to get us exposure on the diamond, but also on developing further as baseball players to put us in a position to succeed at the collegiate level. The number of players our program puts at Division I, Division II, and Division III levels continues to grow.

Is there a MLB player that you would compare your style of play with?

+ Adam Jones. A ballplayer who is aggressive at the plate and has fun playing the game we all love.