To say that RHP/3B Charlie Wolf (St. Ignatius, 2023) was an important piece in his high school squad's deep playoff run would be an understatement. He served as a horse in his program's deep pitching staff throughout the year, and he showed up for his team when it mattered the most; assisting them in victories in both the regional and sectional championship games on the mound. Not to mention he started at third-base and hit in the middle of the order on daily basis. Wolf is no stranger to PBR, as he made his showcase debut back in 2018. His strong and continued performance over the years eventually earned him an invite to join Team Illinois at the Future Games back in 2021. He has continued to trend upwards since then, committing to Princeton this past August.

We recently had the opportunity to discuss the recruitment process with Wolf,  with some other fun questions mixed in along the way. 

Our Q&A

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Wolf: Going into the recruiting process, I didn’t really know what to expect. I felt uninformed, and I had to (and did) learn a lot. I started showcases with PBR early because I knew that there would be exhibitions where I had to perform under stress, and I knew that being comfortable in that situation would help. My goal was to be able to play D1 in a competitive conference and to attend a school that could pair that sort of baseball with a really strong academic program.

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

W: As long as the school was relatively accessible, my family and I weren’t overly concerned about how far away it was. I was mainly looking for a school in the Midwest or on the East Coast that was fairly easy to get to so that my family could come see games. I did also make sure to ask coaches about games being streamed online.

P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?

W: During my 16u summer, a number of schools reached out, but a lot of that subsided during the winter. I attended a number of college camps between my 16u and 17u seasons, and activity ramped up a lot in the middle of my 17u season. One of the camps I attended in the fall after my 16u season was Princeton, but the more serious communication with the Princeton coaches didn’t start until they saw me at tournaments during my 17u season.

P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?

W: Princeton has everything that I had been looking for in a program. It offers both high academics and high caliber baseball. The coaches have a long track record of experience, success, and player development, and they strongly support the balance between athletics and academics. The facilities and resources are excellent; and Princeton plays in the historic and competitive Ivy League. Obviously, the school’s overall reputation and history played a part in my decision as well. In the end, I was made to feel very at-home on campus and very valued by the coaching staff, and that made all the difference.

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

W: I was being recruited by and had visits with a number of other Ivy League schools. I was also being recruited and had great conversations with a number of other high-academic D1 and D3 programs, mostly in the Midwest and East Coast. I gave serious consideration to many programs and, ultimately, Princeton was the perfect fit.

P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?

W: Illinois has great players, but Owen Murphy in the class of 2022 was easily the best player I have faced. On the mound, he was really competitive, and his velo, command and mix of pitches were unmatched - and he can hit too. I never had the opportunity to pitch to him, but I did get to hit off of him a couple times. That kid is really good.

P: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

W: I had success as a youth player, but around 15u I got a better read on how my stats and performance compared to others. My performances at early PBR showcases were positive, and the feedback from my coaches around that time also encouraged me to keep pushing.

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

W: My advice to young players is to be persistent and not get discouraged by the natural ups and downs of baseball. Stay disciplined, stay focused, and work hard in training. Also, and this is a big one, study and keep your grades up in order to keep more doors open in recruiting. Be open to learning from everyone you play with including coaches, teammates, and even opponents.

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

W: The most memorable moment in my baseball career was Saint Ignatius’ IHSA playoff run last year. It was a great series of games where our team came together, supported each other and played as a unit. I had the opportunity to start on the mound in both the regional and sectional championships, and that run was a great memory for me. We battled to get to the super-sectional game where we fought to the end by scoring five runs in the last inning and fell just short of a full comeback – but even in a loss we were proud of our performance.

P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

W: Our team should be very good. We were young last year, so we are bringing back a lot of experienced starters. We also have a number of players moving up who can fill gaps and make a difference. We’ve got pitching, defense, power at the plate and speed, so while the CCL is always competitive, I think we will be in contention for some hardware.

P: How did the Future Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event?

W: I think it was a real honor to have been selected to the Future Games roster. While I was seen by some big programs and got some great feedback from coaches, that honor was also important as something to have on my resume. It was a recognition that meant something to coaches down the road, so it turned out to be a great opportunity.

P: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?

W: Tommy Townsend (Sycamore High School), a teammate of mine on Top Tier, stays loose in any situation. Whatever the game or situation, he will never show stress, at least not outwardly. Tommy’s personality keeps things light in the dugout, which ensures his teammates stay loose, and that helps the team stay focused, optimistic, upbeat and confident. This was something that I recognized quickly when playing with Tommy, and I instantly worked to include it in my game and mindset.

P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?

W: Danny Johnson (2024) and Remo Indomenico (2025) are both pitchers in my high school and travel programs. Danny will definitely be a key RHP asset for our Saint Ignatius team this year, and I am excited to see how LHP Remo progresses and develops in the next couple years.

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