Cale Giddings, a first baseman from Pickerington North, recently became Akron's third commitment in their 2012 recruiting class. Learn more about his recruiting process, decision to attend Akron, and overall development as a player.

 

PBR: What schools were you considering?

Giddings: I was also being recruited by Wright State, Indiana State and Louisville.

PBR: Why did you choose Akron?

Giddings: I chose Akron because when I met Coach Rem for the first time I could tell that he truly saw my determination to get better and the passion and energy that I brought to the field every day.  Coach Rem seems like a down-to-earth person who has a great background of coaching Division I baseball and is a person I believe can change this program around.  I also feel that this school will also lead me in the right direction academically as well.

PBR: What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?

Giddings: Coach Rem and his new staff at Akron expect me to be that "spark" a baseball team needs as they saw me bring energy to my teammates and coaches.  They see me being a middle of the lineup hitter who they could build a lineup around and I will push myself to achieve these goals.

PBR: What is it like to be apart of Coach Rembielak’s first recruiting class at Akron?

Giddings: I feel very honored to be a part of Coach Rem's first recruiting class at Akron because he has been very successful at Kent State, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech and I believe that he knows what has to be done for this team to be successful.  He is a very accomplished coach and I am glad to have the opportunity to be in his first recruiting class.

PBR: What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that you will help Akron?

Giddings: I feel that my biggest strength as a player is my ability to get those big-time hits that score runners and help my team win. I believe that my passion and love for the game is contagious throughout my teammates and it will allow for the team to have a common goal.  I think that my ability to play the game the right way and also my hitting ability will help Akron go in the right direction as a program on the rise.

PBR: How has travel baseball helped your development as a player?

Giddings: Travel baseball has allowed for me to develop my skills as a player against the best competition.  I have faced some of the best pitchers in the nation which has given me the ability to adjust and have a better approach at the plate.  The competition in travel ball has created the desire to be hitting in a clutch situation in a big game.

PBR: What is your favorite memory from travel baseball?

Giddings: My favorite memory from travel baseball is meeting the people that I will have relationships for the rest of my life.  I would have never met these people from all over along my journey if it wasn't for travel baseball.

PBR: Who has had the biggest impact on you as a baseball player?

Giddings: There are many people who have major impacts on me as a baseball player and that is why it is hard for me to name one.  Coach Ken Maxwell, Coach Chris Valentine and my dad, Eric Giddings, are all people in my life that have greatly impacted me as a baseball player.

PBR: What was it like to be a part of a state championship runner-up team as a freshman? Now that you are a senior, what are your expectations for your team this coming spring?

Giddings: Though I was injured when our team was runner-up in the state championship, I was able to be a small part of the team and it truly was an amazing experience. I was in the dugout when we lost and it was sad seeing the seniors lose their last game.  My expectations for this year's team is to play one game at a time and though we have a limited amount of seniors, I believe that Coach Thomas is a coach that can lead us far in the playoffs.

PBR: This summer, you started out slow and struggled out of the gate. What lessons did you take away from that time of adversity?

Giddings: It was tough having these struggles early in the summer season, but I had faith that I could come out of it and I just went through each game as though it was the game I would break out.  I learned that everything happens for a reason and harsh times like these are what help mold people as players and human beings.  My teammates and coaches were there to support me and I learned to trust yourself and your abilities as a baseball player.

PBR: What were your stats for this spring season at Pickerington North?

Giddings: I am working very hard to improve each and every offseason and my stats for this spring season were .301 BA, 22 hits, 5 doubles, 17 RBI's and 18 BB's.

PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher that you have faced in Ohio?

Giddings: I think that the toughest pitcher that I have faced is Taylore Cherry because he has a huge 6'10'' 260 pound frame that looks even bigger on the mound as the ball is coming in at 94 mph.  He is a very good pitcher and has great potential for the near future.