The Prep Baseball Report Mississippi scouting staff recently sat down with Southeast Lauderdale right hander, Zachary Flaskamp to discuss his recent commitment to Jones County Junior College. Below is a transcript of our question and answer session:

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process?
Flaskamp: I expected it to be really hard to pick between colleges and a longer process.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision? 
Flaskamp: No, I wanted to go where I felt more welcomed and what school will be best for me.

PBR: Where did the college you chose first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
Flaskamp: After a tournament I played in at Jones. It developed really good and fast. They welcomed me as if I was at home.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?
Flaskamp: Jacob Edwards because he always did something big every time he played against us.

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?
Flaskamp: In the 9th grade, because I was second on the team in batting average and ERA. 

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Flaskamp: I was looking for a good school, a successful baseball team, and welcoming coaches.

PBR: What is your best attribute as a baseball player and how does that transfer onto the field for your team?
Flaskamp: I am really hard working and I am not afraid to step up and be the leader of the team.

PBR: What part of your game needs the biggest improvement, why, and what will you do to improve it?
Flaskamp: I need to have a little better plate discipline and I will work on this area in the cages and in practice.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
Flaskamp: I would tell them to work hard in the classroom first and let that carry onto the field, and they should never give up because anything is possible.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?
Flaskamp: I workout and condition a lot. 

PBR: What do you like most about the college you committed to and what were the key factors in making your decision?
Flaskamp: Jones is a really good college and it is in a good town. The coaches are really friendly and they know the game of baseball. The baseball program has a history of winning.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision? Flaskamp: East Central CC, Hinds CC, and Meridian CC