Blair Will Headline Cardinals '09 Squad

By: Ben O'Brien

For Calvert Hall rising senior Pat Blair things are just getting started.

The 16-year-old shortstop has blossomed into a star over his three high school seasons and has now turned his primary focus toward a future in baseball.

Blair has verbally committed to play for Wake Forest following his senior season, after drawing interest from Maryland, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Louisiana State.

Calvert Hall baseball coach and athletic director Lou Eckerl has no doubt that his young pupil will thrive in a college environment, but he said Blair might have a decision to make following next year’s Major League Baseball draft.

“Pat is a complete player,” Eckerl said. “He has all the tools to do the job. He is a little bit better than everyone else we have had here at Calvert Hall. He won’t have any problem getting a scholarship for college, there is no question he can do that. He is also draftable. If he goes about it the right way and gets a little bit bigger and stronger, he will put up some big numbers for us next season. I think he has got a shot at getting drafted.”

But Blair’s focus is on the field; he is working hard this summer and trying to avoid the off-the-field pressure.

“Just to play and have fun is the main thing,” Blair said. “If you’re not having fun, you shouldn’t do it. If we have fun and don’t put any pressure on ourselves next season, we will be successful.”

Blair batted .462 with seven home runs, 34 RBIs and an astounding .860 slugging percentage in 34 games last season.

The Cardinals (27-7) spent part of the season as the top ranked high school team in the nation and were dominant en route to their fourth consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship.

During the title run Blair emerged as a leader and showed he could field his position, padding his already stellar resume.

An example of Blair’s leadership and quick thinking came in the second game of the MIAA A Conference tournament. A rare play sparked Calvert Hall to a 7-2 defeat of No. 1 Archbishop Spalding.

After Blair singled in a run in the first inning, he reached third, and the bases were loaded with Spalding starter Paul DeVito using a windup. Blair told third base coach Brooks Kerr he could steal home on the left-hander.

"We looked at each other and smiled when we saw him go from the windup," Blair said after the game.

He stole home and his team took the lead, the game and the championship.

“Early on, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves and ended up losing a few games,” Blair said. “But that brought us together, and we persevered and won another title. We needed to pull together as a team and a couple of guys came together and stepped up. I would say leadership is something I really picked up this year.”

Blair garnered a first-team All-Metro selection last season and carried a 3.6 grade point average. He's also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Calvert Hall and plays for the Oriolelanders fall showcase scout team.

“This kid is smart and has a great love of the game,” Eckerl said. “He has a great passion for the game; he constantly strives to make himself better because he loves the game so much. He is a fun player to coach, he’s competitive and just a dream to coach.”

Blair began developing his talent and passion for baseball at a young age, with his dad and uncle pushing him to succeed and guiding him down the right path.

“I probably started when I was 3 or 4,” Blair said. “I would throw the ball around with my dad in the backyard. I started organized baseball when I was 5. They got me in there early. I have a lot of supporters like my Uncle [Marty Blair] who played professionally and played Division I baseball. He shares his experiences with me and helps to put things in perspective.”

His mother Ana Blair said that her son has always been a quick learner and his natural ability has helped him succeed.

“He doesn’t take anything for granted,” she said. “Whenever he has had failures, he hasn’t let that get him down. He is very positive, and I think that goes along with his dad being his biggest cheerleader and pumping him up with confidence. He has had a slew of great coaches, and his family has always been right behind him.”

For Blair and his family, the verbal commitment to Wake Forest is an exciting step in his baseball career.

“I think it is awesome,” Blair said. “Athletically and academically it is a great fit for me, and I think it will be a great place for me to reach my goals.”

Blair is a normal 16-year-old when he isn’t between the lines. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, spending time with his girlfriend and just being a regular sports fan.

He idolizes Derek Jeter for his consistent play and respect for the game and hopes to play beside him one day in the majors.

“I think everybody’s dream is to play in the major leagues,” Blair said. “But beyond that, I just want to respect the game and get as much out of it as I possibly can.”

Posted June 23, 2008