Recent Circleville graduate Matt Bradley has committed to play baseball for Ohio Christian University, an NAIA institution. Bradley batted .265 with a .419 on-base percentage and scored 21 runs in earning honorable mention honors in the Mid-State League Buckeye Division and special mention in the Southeast District.
Question: Talk to us about the recruiting process that you went through, how many schools that you looked at and what made Ohio Christian the right fit for you?
Answer: My recruiting process was late and had to be fast, so I looked at Rio Grande for baseball and OCU. I chose OCU because when I was there on my tryout everyone was nice, the coaches I got to meet were nice and I just felt like I was accepted right when I was there before my offer. I knew right then and there OCU was my place to be.
Question: What would you like to major in at OCU?
Answer: I will be going for business management and marketing, because I would love being a leader for a company and being a big part of a product that a company is trying to sell.
Question: What has led to your success in baseball? What are your strengths as an athlete and what are a few areas you’ve had to work at the hardest to improve?
Answer: My coaches and teammates that always pushed me day in and day out. My strengths are my speed and my ability to track a fly ball down. An area that I had to work extra hard in was my batting, but with my hitting coaches and the extra work I put in it all paid off for me.
Question: What is your favorite brand bat and glove to use?
Answer: My favorite brand bat would be Louisville Slugger, because I used them for all my life playing baseball and they always felt good in my hand. My glove would be an a2000 because the leather and lining makes it very comfortable and easy to break into your liking.
Question: What are some memories from playing at Circleville over the last four years that you will treasure for years to come?
Answer: Probably when I was a freshman and when I had my first practice with Coach Bigam and he gave me the nickname Ferret, because I couldn’t stand still and was always going 90 miles per hour all the time.
Question: Is there a baseball player that you look up to and try to emulate?
Answer: Billy Hamilton, because I grew up watching him use his speed on the base paths and in the outfield and was always like I can do that I know I can.
Question: Favorite meal?
Answer: Steak with a salad and twice baked potato with sweet tea.
Question: Favorite place to eat out at?
Answer: Chipotle
Question: Favorite pro baseball team?
Answer: Cleveland Guardians
Question: Favorite musical group or genre?
Answer: Rap
Question: Favorite movie?
Answer: The Hangover
Question: Hobbies?
Answer: Play 2k and going out with friends
Question: Favorite holiday?
Answer: Christmas, because I get to see all my family I normally can’t.
Question: What is your most valuable possession?
Answer: My bracelet I got to remember my grandpa when he passed away.
Question: Something that no one knows about you?
Answer: I played soccer for three years
Question: What is the best vacation you’ve ever been on in your life?
Answer: Cooperstown, New York
Question: Favorite memory from the Circleville Pumpkin Show?
Answer: Riding on the back of the golf cart with my dad at the end of the parades when I was little.
