Grant Schuermann, LHP, Lakota West HS, Class of 2014

PBR: Why did you choose Furman?

Schuermann:  Furman was very aggressive early on in my recruiting process.  They have a beautiful campus and excellent academic reputation.  The baseball program is very competitive (they beat South Carolina and Georgia this past season), the coaching staff is very stable and they just finished a new $2 million dollar baseball facility this past year with more stadium upgrades underway.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Schuermann:  I basically went early before summer ball even got going and other potential offers came in.  In the final days I was talking to Charlotte, UC and Furman and making a decision on whether to hold out for an offer in the summer from Louisville, Ohio St. or West Virginia.   

PBR: Where did the Furman coaches first see you?  How did your relationship develop with them?

Schuermann:  Furman first saw me live at Showball in Ft. Meyers last December.  I went on an unofficial visit in February for their opening weekend and spent a lot of time with them.  From there they saw a lot of my High school game video and sent scouts to watch me.  They offered me the last day of high school and by that time we had a lot of email and phone correspondence behind us.  I felt very comfortable with them because they did their homework on who I was and what I can do.

 PBR:  Was distance from home a factor in your decision?

Schuermann:  No.  I was very clear with every school I spoke with that I was willing to travel away from home if it was the right situation.  Pitching in the south in warm weather in front of a lot of fans always sounded good to me.  As a pitcher my family will know when I start so they can plan to see me pitch.

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

Schuermann:  Furman does not take a lot of lefties and when they do they expect you to play a big role.  If I do my job I should get some midweek starts my freshman year and they will move me into the weekend rotation my sophomore year.  That was a big decision in choosing Furman.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process?

Schuermann:  Honestly, I let my parents run the process and guide me.  They both played D1 sports on scholarship so they knew all the ins and outs.  They were my advisors and they really helped me to manage the process.  They prepared me for the process by telling me that not every school sees a player the same way and one school may love you and another doesn’t want to talk to you.  Don’t take it personal, it’s just a matter of opinion.

 PBR:  Who do you play for in the summer and what is your most memorable experience?

Schuermann:  This past summer I played for Ohio Elite. 

PBR: Who has had the biggest impact on you as a baseball player?

Schuermann:  My family and grandparents always attend my games and I always see them behind home plate when I pitch.    

PBR: What were your stats this spring season at Lakota West?

Schuermann:  I was 6-2, with 63K and a 2.28 ERA.  

PBR: Who is the toughest hitter that you have faced in Ohio?

Schuermann:  Zach Shannon