2015 grad relishing his new role

By: Teyha Tournier

Left handed pitcher Brady Corson, who graduated in 2015 and started for Tiger baseball team, now attends and plays baseball at Iowa Central Community College.

“Being at a junior college is a different feeling since you can’t experience the full on university effect like you can at Iowa or UNI. The classes aren’t as tough as I thought they would be, but when you throw in practice and workouts, it adds up to about how hard classes at a university would be. One thing I like is that the team I’m on is very close and gets along very well.” Corson said.

The transition of high school to college is said to be difficult for some, and Corson said it was stressful at first, but after getting to know people, the campus and his teammates, it made the transition easier.

“Having a sport to play is also great too because it keeps you busy doing something that you love.”

The  CF graduate made a decision to fully commit to baseball and make it a priority around the time he was making his name known to colleges and college coaches. Corson said it made him realize if he wanted to play baseball in college he was really going to have to make a commitment. His parents and coaches along the way helped him focus and motivate him as he worked toward his goal.

“If you want to become a student athlete in college, you can’t just dip your toes in the water because if you aren’t fully committed to what you are doing, somebody will pass you. You have to be fully committed to what you are doing in order to be successful at the college level.”

Corson said practices are a lot different than high school practices because they are more structured and much more frequent. He also explained they get very intense because everyone is trying grab a starting spot, but as a pitcher, they are very doable and educational for Corson.

“In college baseball, the pitching is quicker and better. The hitters are more powerful and explosive. The fielding is much more crisp. Each pitch is so important, and a hitter or base runner can take advantage of a mistake by the other team, while in high school, you can’t get away with stuff like that.” Corson said.

Balancing school and sports can be a challenge, but Brady said the coach at Iowa Central provides times to study and get homework done on time twice a week for two hours at a time. He said it can be stressful at times, but it’s what he has to work for in order to play the sport he loves.

“Once you get the hang of it and manage your time well, it gets better as the school year goes on,” Corson said.

Brady said he is very excited to start playing this season and is ready to see what the team brings from practice onto the field.

“I was anxious about joining the team only knowing maybe five guys on the 60-man roster at the beginning of the season, but the guys were very welcoming, and we all got along very well. It’s like we all knew each other already before we all met.”