Prep Baseball Report

Inside the Recruitment: '15 1B Austin Palo commits to Northwood



PBR: Why did you choose Northwood?

Palo:  I chose Northwood because I felt it was the best fit for me athletically and academically.  I am interested in going into the field of business, and they are an excellent business school.  Also, I feel like the baseball team will provide me many opportunities to play and contribute throughout my college career.   

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Palo:  I was also considering Heidelberg, Albion, Siena Heights, and Aquinas College.  I visited all of these schools and met with the coaches.  They are all great schools, so I had a lot to consider when making my decision.  

PBR: Where did the coaches first see you? How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?

Palo:  The Northwood coaches first saw me play in a tournament at the University of Michigan this past summer.  We were in contact shortly after and stayed in touch over the next few months.  I was able to visit Northwood, meet with the coaching staff, and see the team play an intrasquad game. 

PBR: What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?

Palo:  There are many opportunities for me the first year on campus.  The coaches have indicated they like my bat, and can see me playing in many different roles in the field.  

PBR: Northwood is extremely close to your home.  How much of a role did that play in your decision?

Palo:  Most of the schools I was considering were fairly close to home.  I did consider location in my decision making, as I wanted to stay in Michigan. 

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was the most memorable experience from this summer?

Palo:  I play for the Howell Hawks Gold team.  The most memorable experience this past summer was when I went 11 for 15 at the plate, including two home runs, in a tournament in Grand Rapids. Our team went on to win that tournament.