Anthony Hunt, C, Amelia

PBR: Why did you choose Cincinnati?

Hunt:  I chose the University of Cincinnati because I felt like I would be a really great fit with the baseball team and I really enjoyed the campus.  They have everything you could possibly want in a college campus, from the turf baseball field to a lazy river. It’s really great and I am just counting down the days until then.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Hunt: I was considering visiting Xavier, West Virginia, and Miami (Oxford). I also visited Kentucky.

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

Hunt: I’m really not one-hundred percent sure where Coach Cleary first saw me, but I went to a camp at the school in the fall, where we first spoke.  As far as the coaching staff, I actually met Coach Heilmann at a camp at Xavier back in eighth grade.  We hadn’t spoken since then until the past fall.  I’m not too familiar with the entire coaching staff but on my visit everybody was very welcoming.

PBR: Coach Cleary is putting together a nice recruiting class.  How does it feel to be a part of a Division I baseball program?

Hunt: Fantastic!  Ever since I began playing baseball when I was 8, I dreamed of playing professionally, just like every other young baseball player.  This is the next step towards my goal and playing Division I baseball will better my abilities and give me the experience of playing against the highest level of competition.

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

Hunt: My first year on campus the coaches are expecting me to work hard on and off the field and give it everything I can.  Although I may or may not start my freshman year, they are expecting me to be as much of a leader as I can. 

PBR: What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that you will help Bearcat baseball?

Hunt: I believe that my biggest strength is my upbeat mindset.  I don’t like sitting back and waiting for others to do the job.  I get out and try my best to get it done.  I feel like this will help lead the team and contribute to more wins.

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

Hunt: I play for the Midland Redskins out of Cincinnati.  My most memorable experience was winning the 3^rd straight Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, NM. The whole experience was like nothing else.  We got police escorts going into the small town.  I got to sign autographs and give away some of my gear at the end.  The dog-pile at the end of the last game was such a great feeling. You feel like you are on top of the world.

PBR: Now that you have your commitment out of the way, what are your goals both individually and for the team going into your senior season?

Hunt: My goal individually is to be the player of the year for my league.  Last year I got kind of cheated out of it, but this year I hope to stay healthy the whole season and finally get what I’ve been working hard for.  As for the team I’d like to make it passed the second round in the state tournament.  Since my freshman year, we’ve never made it that far and if we can do that I could say we had a successful season. 

PBR: What were your stats for this spring season at Amelia?

Hunt: I batted around .375 with 17 doubles 2 homeruns and 1 triple.  Unfortunately, last year our shortstop wasn’t what we were expecting, so I had to step up and play the spot instead of catching.  I caught only 4 games so I don’t know what those stats were.

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

Hunt: The toughest pitcher I faced from Ohio was Matt Smoral.  We faced in an intersquad with Midland.  As far as my area, the toughest pitcher I faced was Eric Martin who is with Tennessee right now, but I was successful with a 3-for-3 game.