Baseball Victoria Aces Academy alum Zak Skinner is heading to Vernon College in Texas to continue his baseball journey.
Having spent many seasons with Sandringham and Greensborough Baseball Clubs, and represented on Victorian State Teams, Skinner feels prepared for the next step.
“I am most excited about being out on the field every day, playing 4-5 games a week, and also being able to see or play against some of my mates from back home in a competition like junior college ball,” Skinner said. “I’m going to miss my family most of all, but also playing with the boys from Sandringham and Greensborough, and all the mates I’ve met along the way.”
In the lead-up to his big move, the catcher and third baseman has been hitting the field to get lots of running and training in so he can get as fit and strong as possible to be ready for his college experience.
“To me, lifting has been the most important part to improve my game,” Skinner said. “It takes time but if you are patient, it really shows how much the gym can actually improve or help someone's abilities, and I find it has been vital to my training to get to where I am.”
Over the years, Skinner has drawn inspiration from successful Victorian players and former Big Leaguers.
“I've always looked up to Brad Harman, ever since Little League when I first started hearing stories about him, then growing up and now being able to play against him in the winter league is unreal,” he said.
No matter what his future holds at college and beyond, Skinner will keep in mind everything he has learned at his grassroots clubs and throughout his development and high performance opportunities like Aces Academy and representative teams.
“My advice for players who want to play at a higher level is to listen to your coaches, and put in the work,” Skinner said. “It's often the most challenging times in baseball that you will improve the most so give everything you've got whenever you've got it.”