Prep Baseball Report caught up with infielder Kris Simonton from Dublin Scioto. He recently issued a verbal commitment to Coach Rem and the Akron Zips. Read more about his recruitment process ...

PBR: Why did you choose Akron?
Simonton: I chose Akron because I wanted to be part of the up and coming program that Coach Rem envisions for the future.  


PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Simonton: Northwestern, Miami, Central Michigan.


PBR: Where did Akron first see you? How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?
Simonton: Akron first saw me at the Best of the Midwest Tournament in Dayton, Ohio.  Since then we were in close contact both by phone and e-mail.  Coach Rem kept me well informed with his recruiting process while he assessed his current players abilities.


PBR: At Akron, you will be joining three of your teammates (Evan Jensen, Cale Giddings, and Michael Steensen) from the Ohio Elite. Were they recruiting you hard to Akron?
Simonton: Yes, every few days or during our games in fall ball one of them was contacting me and wondering what the latest news was and if I made a decision.


PBR: When Akron and Kent State play, it will feature at least nine players from your summer team. Who is going to win and why?
Simonton: I believe Akron will, but Kent State has a great program and solid incoming players, so we will just have to wait and see.


PBR: What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?
Simonton: The coaches at Akron believe I could be an impact player somewhere in the infield.


PBR: What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that you will help Akron?
Simonton: I think my biggest strength as a player is my versatility.  I believe I can play multiple positions at a high level.


PBR: What sort of sacrifices did you have to make to play a travel intensive schedule during the summer?? What sort of advice would you pass on to players looking to make the same decision?
Simonton: There was not much time to have a social life outside of baseball because of the hectic schedule.  I definitely did not get to see my friends as much as I would have like to for the couple months of travel baseball.  I would tell other players that they need to be committed and passionate and also to have a drive to get better on and off the baseball field.


PBR: What was the most memorable experience from this summer?
Simonton: The most memorable experience from the summer was the WWBA down in Georgia.  My team had a great run in one of the best tournaments in the country and it was great to have some free time and hang out with the guys and their families.


PBR: Who has had the biggest impact on you as a baseball player?
Simonton: My sister has had the biggest impact on me.  She is a member of The Ohio State softball team and it has always been a goal of mine to be a Division 1 athlete like herself.


PBR: What were your stats for this spring season at Dublin Scioto?
Simonton: I batted .493 and had an OBP of .588.  I had 7 doubles, 12 stolen bases and 15 walks.  I also pitched 28.2 innings and had a 1.22 ERA.


PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher that you have faced in Ohio?
Simonton: The toughest pitcher I have faced is North Carolina committ Matt Smoral.  He has very good stuff and has great potential.