CANTON - Owen Carapellotti knew he had found the perfect school, but a coaching change brought doubt when it came to a future at Georgetown

“I started talking to them close to the end of July,” the University of Detroit Jesuit High School senior reflected. “I sent the coaches at the time an email and right after that the head coach resigned.”

The second-rated 2021 catcher in Michigan admits to being devastated.

“It was one of the worst feelings,” Carapellotti said. “I’m looking for one of the best schools I could get and thought I found it in Georgetown. It was a punch in the gut to have it taken away. I’d talked to the head coach for two-and-a-half weeks and just like that it was gone. After that I did as much as I could do to reach out to the new coach.”

There was help along the way from Aaron Wilson, PBR Michigan Director of Scouting.

“When coach (Edwin) Thompson was hired he let the other guys go so I lost my contacts with them which was scary,” Carapellotti explained. “But Aaron Wilson knew the new head coach and recruiting coordinator well and I ended up talking to the recruiting coordinator a couple of times. Then I started talking to the head coach in the middle of October and on Dec. 3 I was offered a spot on the team. I accepted the next day.”

Ball State, Wabash Valley, Purdue University Fort Wayne and Lansing Community College were the most recent colleges that Carapellotti was talking with after earlier interest from the likes of Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan, Western Michigan, Yale and Pepperdine.

“With an offer from Georgetown and the academic reputation, it was something I couldn’t pass up,” Carapellotti pointed out. “School was the main thing for me. If baseball doesn’t work out, and I’m not planning on that happening, a degree at Georgetown will set me up well.”

A virtual tour helped seal the deal.

“Everything I saw there was gorgeous,” Carapellotti related. “Being Catholic and going to a Catholic high school, and it being a Jesuit school, made it even more attractive.”

Going to college seven-and-a-half hours from home is not a problem in the eyes of Carapellotti.

“I had a couple of other offers from schools in my backyard but I didn’t feel the sense of independence which is what I was looking for,” Carapellotti said. “Plus, I have a couple of connections in DC if something were to go wrong.”

The top-ranked uncommitted 2021 in Michigan prior to his commitment believes he can be a major asset to the program at the Big East Conference school.

“On the field I’m going to be one of the best leaders and most fierce competitors without a doubt,” Carapellotti noted. “There will be catchers ahead of me, but I look forward to the competition. Off the field I’ll be a great friend and represent the university and team well.”

Playing for a new coaching staff is also appealing to the 17-year-old.

“They said the program has not been the best in the past and if a change is necessary you’ve got to have the right people,” Carapellotti explained. “My personality fits what they’re trying to build.”

A 3.9 student considering a major in either exercise science or kinesiology, Carapellotti admits the recruiting process had its difficulties with the virus restrictions.

“I feel our summer team did a great job doing as much as they could,” Carapellotti said. “Highlights were sent out and they made sure to get videos from games, along with bullpen videos and cage stuff. We sent as many out as we could.”

Still, Carapellotti maintains there is a lot that is missed out on with the current recruiting process.

“I think coaches miss some intangibles I bring that make me stand out,” the 6-2 195-pounder pointed out. “I’m not able to showcase that for them to see in person.”

Fortunately, the left-handed hitting catcher was able to connect with his school of choice and commit to Georgetown.

“It’s a weight off everybody’s shoulders,” Carapellotti said in reference to both himself and his family. “I feel if covid didn’t happen, I'd have been committed long before this. I considered going the JUCO route or D-II in Michigan, there was so much uncertainty. This took off a lot of stress. A couple nights after committing were the best I’d slept in a very long time.”