By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Illinois/Wisconsin

Downers Grove South product Joe Bect recently committed to Santa Clara in California. Becht is the No.66 ranked prospect in the state and we recently caught up with the infielder to talk about his commitment to Santa Clara.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult? 

Becht: I expected the process to be a difficult, exciting, and stressful one. It was exactly that and more. It caused a lot of stress on my family and me, but it was also quite exciting at the same time. 

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Becht: I was really just looking for a college to give me a fair chance at competing for a spot as a freshman. Being on the field is very important to me, and hearing a coach tell me I have that opportunity was the most important thing for me to hear.

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

Becht: The distance did not really play a factor in my decision mainly because of the support and preparation my family has provided me with.

PBR: Where did Santa Clara first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Becht: They actually saw me play once at a camp. I reached out to them and my travel coach knew their coach. Immediately after speaking with the coaches, I felt good about the opportunity and had a really good feeling about it. The coaches are great guys who just seem very passionate about the sport.

PBR: What do you like most about Santa Clara and what were the key factors in making your decision? 

Becht: I have been very picky in my decision because I did not choose a school solely for baseball. I chose a school for the academics and as a place that, if baseball fell through, I would enjoy and be proud to go there. It was hard to find the right place for that, but Santa Clara has the perfect mix and felt like the right choice. I also really like the way the coaches approach the game and immediately felt like they were the right staff to play for.

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

Becht: The other schools I had the option of choosing were Cincinnati, Austin Peay, and Morehead State.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why? 

Becht: Illinois has numerous players with extremely high level talent, and I have not played against all of them so it is hard to answer. I do however believe Downers South has a great talent in our sophomore catcher, Danny Oriente. He is a strong, fast kid who has a knack for the game and plays it the right way. He is without a doubt one of the best players in the 2016 class and possibly in the state overall. He will be a force at the plate this year and has an extremely bright future in front of him. I am excited to see his progress this year and years to come.

PBR: What has been the lowest point in your baseball career; what have you learned from it and how has it helped you grow as a player?

Becht: The lowest point of my career had to be my first games as a sophomore on the varsity team. I was playing terrible and almost blew a couple games. I let the nerves get to me and played to impress people. I have changed from that by just relaxing, taking a step back and play the game to enjoy it just like a little kid loving the game. It is the way to play the game, not to impress. It made me appreciate what baseball has to offer and ever since then, my performance has skyrocketed. Any time I hit a slump I just relax and think of the game as a little kid.

PBR: At what point in your career did you realize you were an elite player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

Becht: I have always loved the game and dreamed and saw myself as a college player, but when I had the opportunity to play on the varsity team as a sophomore, I realized baseball could take me somewhere after high school. I did not know where that level was, but it is when I became very serious about my game and getting to the next level.

PBR: What is your best attribute as a baseball player and how does that transfer onto the field for your team?

Becht: I am just a baseball nut. I live it basically. I just love the game and love playing it. My passion for the game is what I want people to recognize me by, and that passion helps my physical play improve day in and day out. 

PBR: What part of your game needs the biggest improvement, why, and what will you do to improve it? 

Becht: I work on my swing the most, just to keep me in shape and work to become a more consistent hitter throughout the entire season. Staying consistent is my biggest problem. I struggle with the inside pitch, so I am working on recognizing and hitting that pitch.

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

Becht: Obviously the hard work is needed, but the best advice I would give is to mentally not give up. It is a tough process to go through, but as long as you put the work in and you keep your mind set on your goal and not let anyone or anything else affect that mindset no matter what, good things will come. Just always make sure the main thing remains the main thing, whatever that may be, and life will be good.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season? 

Becht: I hit in the cages about four times a week, take infield practice at least twice a week, and lift 4-5 times a week.  I also keep my grades up to keep me eligible and just make life all around easier with good grades.

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

Becht: My most memorable moment would probably be hitting my first varsity home run last year.  No one saw it coming, and it felt pretty good.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Becht: I was in small contact with some schools around this time last year, but I got a lot of contacts from the Stevenson high school showcase this summer, and my travel coach has helped me tremendously with colleges.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel Downers Grove South will be? What are your expectations and goals? 

Becht: We do not have any of the big names anymore because we lost three Division 1 pitchers, but we may quite possibly have the best defensive team in recent DGS history and will for sure generate a lot of offense. I have no doubts that our pitching will be surprisingly effective. Our lineup will be a force that will not go down each game without a fight. I have high hopes for our team and I am confident that we will be a team that can compete with any team in the state.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them? 

Becht: I play with Academy Elite during the summer. It was my first summer with a different team since I was 9, so I just enjoyed experiencing a new team with all new teammates. I met some really good kids and made some good friends and had an overall great experience playing for the team.  I have also met one of the best men I have ever met in my coach for Academy Elite.

More Illinois News

• IL Unsigned Senior Spotlight: York C Seth Dvorak10.17.13
  Fires consistent 1.98-2.04 pop times, 82 from crouch at Unsigned Senior Showcase... >>
• IL Unsigned Senior Spotlight: RHP Bobby Pennington10.16.13
  Right-hander from Maine South HS was the top pitcher at the PBR Unsigned Senior Showcase last Sunday... >>
• PBRPlus The Hotlist: Top 2015 Catchers10.16.13
  Looking at the Midwest's top catching prospects in the 2015 class... >>