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VI’s Shamoy Christopher signed to play College baseball in US!
The Menchville High School student signed his contract on November 14, 2013 and begins playing for Chowan University next year.
“It’s a great opportunity, it’s something I have been waiting for all my life,” Mr Christopher commented in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online from Virginia, USA.
According to family members, Shamoy at a tender age ate, slept, talked and played baseball. “Whenever he got a chance he would bat rocks, balls or anything he can hit with a bat. Despite the many windows, car glass and sliding doors he broke and although being punished, within minutes he would be back with a bat in his hand.”
Seeing his potential, coach Terrance (Chino) Chinnery work tirelessly with Shamoy, getting him to play overseas in St. Thomas and Puerto Rico where he played in various tournaments. As a result he was able to be the catcher for the Explorers team in St.Thomas and played every summer in tournaments in the USA.
Since Coach Chino had so many contacts with different scouts in the USA Shamoy, along with his lefty pitcher Pedro Suarez, was selected to attend a summer camp in Atlanta with Coach Glenn (Wasi) Philbert.
“These boys looked at this opportunity as a hobby/fun and games and not really a challenge with discipline for which they were taken by surprise to a no-nonsense coach,” relatives stated.
After several warnings from the coach for having to wait on them when he picked them up for practice, this caused them to do laps or find themselves staying home in punishment. “One of the punishments was to run fifty laps on a baseball field. This caused the boys to be down-spirited but didn’t give up. As they did the laps, they ran, walked, cried and as a mother this brought tears to my eyes,” Shamoy’s mother, Ms Veronica Christopher stated.
The elated mom further said that the coach would push the boys very hard and this often bothered her. “Even though the boys were tired and weak they pressed on and completed the lap as coach requested. Seeing all this with a motherly instinct Shamoy was pulled aside and told, ‘Son I am leaving tomorrow and you are coming home with me; I will not leave you here for dead’. Shamoy with tears and yet excitement in his eyes said, ‘mommy you see all those laps I just did and coach said we have done well and made the team, I staying to play baseball that’s what I came for. You go home, I will be fine’,” Ms Christopher related.
Shamoy played his heart out and as a result he was transferred to Virginia where he could have gotten a better chance to pursue his dream. This has led him to earn a position on the Menchville High School team with Coach Phil Forbes as head coach. During his many games played at Menchville High School other coaches have seen his potential and as a result he also earned a position as a leading catcher on the Caines travel team, headed by Coach Terry Woods, who wrote the following:
“The first time I saw Shamoy Christopher step on a baseball field I knew that here was a kid that had all the tools to be a successful baseball player at the High School level but did he have the heart and desire to take it to the next level, College Baseball. Shamoy had all this potential stored up inside him. Here was a quiet kid that needed a Coach to come along and not only nudge him but challenge him to be the best that he could be. In one year he went from just another one of my players, to a team leader. Not by his words but by his work ethic during practice and his performance on the field as a member of the 16U Hampton Roads Hurricanes. His transformation on the baseball field led to a workout with the Chowan University Hawks Division II baseball program. He impressed the Coaching staff with his abilities behind the plate as well as at the plate. So impressed were they that they offered him a Scholarship to play College baseball. There is no better satisfaction as a Baseball Coach than to see one of your players get the chance to play beyond High School at the College level. I am proud of you Shamoy. Goes to show that practice and hard work doesn’t make you perfect, it makes you better.”
On November 14, 2013 Shamoy Christopher made the first step into his baseball career by signing a contract to play college baseball with Chowan University.
“We ask for your continued prayers and support... Heartfelt thanks to all family and friends who supported Shamoy, especially Coach Terrance (Chino) Chinnery, Coach Michael Bute, Coach Henville Pole, Coach Hewett, Coach Glenn Philbert, Coach Phil Forbes, Coach Terry Woods, Devorn Lake and Family, Hon. Julian Fraser and Chowan University,” the proud family stated.
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