By Dylan Hefflinger                                                                                                                  Senior Writer/Northwest Scout 

Jordan Bostater, Corner Infielder/RHP, Bryan HS

PBR: First off, I want to point out how from your sophomore year to now, the difference in the way you look as a ballplayer. If you could talk about the hard work you put in to get yourself into peak shape. Talk about how much weight you lost. Honestly Jordan you could see the benefits last season and I am hoping to see another step forward this season. 

Bostater: Going into my sophomore year I was at 225 pounds. I knew that it was time for a change if I wanted to follow my dream and play baseball after high school. I had to change a lot to get to where I am now. First, I changed my eating habits. I started to eat very healthy. I never snacked because it was only going to be bad for me. Also, I worked out two times a day. I would get up at 5:15 every morning and do a cross fit workout with coach Jason Selhorst (Bryan assistant coach). After school would be my second workout. I would go to practice and then I would come home and run a mile or two depending on the workout for baseball. It was definitely a very tough thing to keep up, but I knew that if I wanted to be in the best shape of my life it had to be done. I lost a total of 50 pounds. Going into football at 175. It was a challenge this year playing on the line but I got the job done. I was a lot faster, and the game never tired me out as I went both ways all season. We have been lifting for baseball and now I am at about 185 but I feel and look a lot stronger than last year. Losing all of my weight was the best decision of my life. 

PBR: What schools are you deciding between? What do you like about each school? How is your relationship with the coaching staffs at each school?  

Bostater: I am only deciding between a couple schools right now. Heidelberg and ONU. Heidelberg was beautiful. I loved the small campus and the atmosphere itself. The coaches were very nice and it was very easy to get along with the team. I have not visited ONU yet.  

PBR: What schools have you visited? Are you taking any visits soon?  

Bostater: I have only made a visit to Heidelberg. I am going on an overnight stay there soon. I am in the process of setting up a visit to ONU soon.  

PBR: Do you have a leader right now?  

Bostater: I would say my leader as of now is Heidelberg  

PBR: Being a two-sport athlete is there any thought on what you would like to play in college?  

Bostater: I am set on playing baseball. Although ONU has offered the opportunity for me to play both baseball and football there.  

PBR: Coaches always want to know a players baseball intelligence, let me know your mindset at the play as a hitter. What you are trying to accomplish.  

Bostater: As a hitter I have a very set in place routine every time I step up to the plate. I have a mindset that every time I go to the plate I will win the battle every time. I use a lot of self talk. For example, I tell myself WIN THE DAY every time I'm at the plate. And if I get down in the count I like to tell myself "So what, Next pitch" which I learned from Brian Cain last year. He taught me how to break down my mental walls and conquer the mental aspect of the game. Patience is key for me. There is no time set for an a bat so there is no need to rush. I take multiple deep breaths in the box as well, because it helps me to relax and stay focused on the task at hand.  

PBR: Talk about the pitches you have, when you like to use them, the confidence you have in each pitch, etc...  

Bostater: I throw a fastball, curveball, and changeup. I can say that I am confident with all of my pitches. Depending on the batter, depends on what pitch I throw first. I have no problem throwing a first pitch curveball to lets say a four hitter. I have confidence in myself that I can get it over for a strike. Fast ball I like to use in the middle of the count. Most hitters are expecting off speed late in the count, and that's when I bring a fastball to catch them off guard.  

PBR: Talk how coach Inselmann has helped you improve as a pitcher, hitter and leader.  

Bostater: Coach Inselman has done so much for me the past three years of my high school career. He has helped me break down mental walls. As a pitcher he has helped me develop a change up that I am confident with. He also, knows what it takes to get my arm ready to go for the season. He is dedicated as a coach. As a hitter, coach Inselman suggested that I start to use a routine every a bat. It has helped me stick to the task at hand. He has helped me sit back on the off speed as well. Because being the four hitter on the team I usually do not see to many fast balls. The one thing he told me that I will always remember is make sure you have "Quiet Eyes" track the ball in with your eyes and use your legs to take a pitch rather than take it off balance. Coach Inselman has preached about leader ship all three years that he has been here. Even as a sophomore he looked to me to be our leader. I have always been a vocal leader. Also, I try to lead by example. Because when I was a freshman anything the upper classman did, I usually did. As a senior now it is my job to keep the team under control and I love the pressure that comes along with being a team leader. Coach Inselman has definitely gotten me ready for college baseball.  

PBR: What do you wish to improve on from your junior to your senior year?  

Bostater: I would say that I would love to lead our team farther in the tournament. Doing so I need to produce many more RBIs. I personally want to improve on my batting average. The past few years I have been pretty happy with my batting average, but my personal goal is to hit above .500. That is something I know I am very capable of doing.  

PBR: Grades? ACT?  

Bostater: My grades have always been very good. I have always gotten scholar athlete, which is maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher during a sport. My GPA right now is a 3.7 and my cumulative GPA is a 3.49. My ACT score was a 19  

PBR: Spring/Summer stats from last year?  

2nd team all NWOAL in 2013  

SPRING: Batting Stats: .346 avg  .. 28 hits .. 18 singles .. 9 doubles .. 1 triple .. 23 RBIs.. 17 runs .. 8 HBP .. 10 strikeouts .. OBP .436 .. SLG .481 

Pitching Stats: 9.1 IP .. 2 W .. 1 L .. 1 S .. 3.75 ERA .. 10 hits  .. 6 Runs .. 9  Ks ...    

SUMMER: Batting Stats: .395 avg  .. 15 doubles .. 2 homeruns .. 34 RBIs 

Pitching Stats: 2.30 ERA .. 35-40 IP .. 6 W .. 1 L .. Ks