Our Q&A 

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

Montgomery: Going into it, I had no expectations I was just looking for a good program preferably close to home with coaches who made me feel valued. 

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

M: Yes because it’s very important to me that my parents and family have the chance to watch me play and support me.   

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

M: The first days of August were crazy because I had been getting lots of calls and started to consider some potential options. I believe Notre Dame had seen me at a tournament in Indiana and I think that was the first time that they saw me play.  

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

M: Many things at Notre Dame seem too good to be true but the biggest thing to me and especially my parents is the level of education.

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

M: I was talking to Toledo, Cincinnati, and Kent State along with a few other programs. 

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

M: I’ve always considered Colton Semmleman a very close rival and with him being in my conference I’ve faced him a number of times both as a hitter and a pitcher. For me, hitting off Colton lefty lefty is almost impossible and he has some of the nastiest stuff I’ve ever seen. As a pitcher,  Colton has at times been my biggest drive and I am always trying to show to people that the gap between us isn’t that big, and when we play them this year I plan to show that more.  

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?

M: My freshman year I really found my passion for the game and I became obsessed with baseball and I decided I was going to do whatever it takes to play at the next level.

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

M: Use everything as fuel to get better and don’t let it get you down. If you think you should be ranked higher don’t complain about it, just show everyone you deserve it. 

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

M: My favorite moment was probably pitching against Whitefish Bay in the playoffs last year and even though we had lost it was a battle and I can say that I had given it everything I had.  

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

M: I think we are going to surprise a lot of people this year and I keep telling people that we’re going to be really competitive and I just can’t wait to show everybody that we are a force to be reckoned with. 

P: How did the Future Games and/or the Wisconsin State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event(s)?

M: Future Games were huge for me because that was my best showing of the summer and every single coach I had talked to had brought up my performance at future games.

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?

M: I would want Cameron Carters frame. 

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

M: Damian Kosempa in my opinion is still extremely underrated and I know how much he works and I believe he’s still deserving of more recognition. His stuff is amazing and his understanding and knowledge for pitching is incredible. The other thing about Damian is he’s also one of the best teammates I’ve gotten to play with. He is constantly picking up his teammates and he is the definition of a team player. I’ve seen him completely shut down some pretty competitive teams and I honestly am surprised he’s still flying under the radar. 

P: Did Prep Baseball assist in your recruiting? Whether it be through a showcase, tournament coverage, tweets, etc? If yes, please explain. 

M: Yes I had definitely got lots of looks from coaches at every Prep Baseball tournament and it also helps coaches see my verified metrics and numbers throughout my high school career. 

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