He's taken.
Adam Schaly, that is.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound southpaw probably could've pitched for just about any college in the nation, but he opted to accept a full scholarship and attend Stetson University, an NCAA Division I school, in DeLand, Fla.
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Adam Schaly
If Schaly had held a press conference last fall like a famous basketball player from the Buckeye State did a couple of years ago, he could've easily had said in a less dramatic tone, "I'm taking my talents to central Florida."
In-state D1 schools like Kent State, Ohio University, and Wright State all recruited Schaly.
D2 Ashland University and D3 Marietta College each would've loved to have had him on its baseball roster.
At Ashland, Schaly's dad John is the head baseball coach, and at Marietta, his late grandfather Don helped build a perennial D3 baseball powerhouse, which currently owns a record six D3 national titles, including the last two.
Schaly also has an uncle Joe, who coaches baseball at Thiel (Pa.); an uncle Jim, who is an umpire on the professional, college and prep levels; and an uncle Jeff, who is the Marietta College sports information director.
All were enrolled at MC as was his grandmother Sue.
To say that Schaly has pedigree would be a huge understatement. Baseball is a way of life for this family.
Schaly's decision to head south to continue his education and play baseball was not really a difficult one. Here up north, it tends to get a little cold in the wintertime.
Down in the Sunshine State, there's palm trees, sandy beaches, Disney World...well, you get the picture.
Stetson also has a mighty fine baseball program. Earlier this month, six Hatters (the school's moniker), two signees were reportedly drafted by Major League Baseball (MLB) teams.
This past spring, Pete Dunn-coached Stetson posted a 35-23 overall record. In 2011, the Hatters (43-20) were ranked as high as No. 18 and got to the NCAA tourney, where their only setbacks were to eventual national champion South Carolina.
With the addition of Schaly to the roster, the Hatters could potentially have another ace in their pitching rotation.
At Ashland High, Schaly was pretty much a prep baseball phenom. As an Arrows junior, he had a 19-strikeout no-hitter against Orrville.
So what did he do for an encore, he hurled a perfect game against Clear Fork.
Later, he tossed a no-hitter in a 2011 sectional final win versus Mansfield.
This past spring, Schaly - who possesses a fastball in the 90 mph range, a curveball and change - was 11-0 with a 0.44 ERA and 123 strikeouts. A switch hitter, he helped his own cause on many an occasion, batting .391 with a team-leading 34 hits, 28 runs and nine doubles.
He closed out his high school career with a 14-game hitting streak.
In the OHSAA unofficial record books, Schaly has six shutouts, 33-2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, and 0.44 ERA to his credit.
Career-wise, he posted a 23-6 mound mark with a 1.76 ERA. In 171-2/3 innings of work, he had 273 whiffs.
As for postseason accolades, Schaly was pretty much all-everything, including the honor of being Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in Ohio.
Now, Schaly's off to Florida and a new chapter in his baseball career.
Better stay tuned.
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Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
