June 2007

Former Shorter College pitcher Cliff Flagello ('07) had the childhood dream of becoming a professional baseball player, like many kids do; now he actually gets a chance to make that dream a reality.

On June 8, 2007, the second day of the Major League Baseball Draft, Cliff's new life began. After receiving the news that the Baltimore Orioles selected him as a 25th-round pick, he was flown, first-class, to Sarasota, Fla., where the necessary physicals and paperwork were completed.

"It was a rush just knowing that once all this preliminary stuff was completed, I would officially be a part of professional baseball," said Cliff. "I had to hit myself now and again to make sure I wasn't dreaming."

His team assignment, like many in that rookie group, was Bluefield, W. Va., where he would be a reliever for the Rookie League team, the Bluefield Orioles. Following a few days of stretches, practices and team meetings, Cliff's normal day of baseball was a little more than he expected.

"A typical day is a very long day," he laughed. "We usually play our games around seven at night, so that involves us reporting to the field at 2:30. Pitchers will stretch at 2:45 and throw immediately following. We then go into early work until about 4:00, followed by batting practice at 4:15. There is usually some down time until about 6:30, where we can get a lot of Uno! playing in. The game starts a little later, and we repeat the next day."

On June 21, Cliff got to pitch in front of a minor league baseball crowd for the first time. In the bottom of the fourth, he came in against the Danville Braves, pitched 3.2 innings, gave up only two hits, struck out five batters, and earned the win. It was a little more than he could have dreamed of.

"That first game for me was something special. To get a win your first time on the mound is a real morale booster," said Cliff. "It's a memory I will cherish for a long time."

Luckily, he wouldn't have to wait long to try it again. Just four days later, he would pitch four innings against the Greeneville Astros, giving up no earned runs for his second win.

"With Cliff's arm, he should be able to go and play everywhere," said head Shorter College baseball coach Matt Larry ('93). "He's very well rounded, on the field and off, and it's no surprise that he has done so well in his professional start."

Although Cliff has learned a lot in his short time in Bluefield, he says he owes a lot of his success to the three years he spent at Shorter and the coaching he received.

"I cannot say enough about both Coach Larry and Coach Hale for going far above and beyond any expectations that I had upon coming into Shorter," he said. "Coach Larry does a phenomenal job preparing players for a possible future in baseball, but more importantly, he teaches a lot of stuff that is extremely applicable in life."

Cliff has stayed very close to his mentors at Shorter, including Dr. Robert Darville, Melissa Hickman and Gina McDaniel, all business professors of his while he was a student. Darville even came and surprised Cliff by coming to see him pitch a game.

No one really knows where Cliff will end up next, but he's just trying to take it in one day at a time, adjusting to all the changes it has brought.

"In college, we were playing about every three days with an occasional double header; now, it's every day. Some nights you may not get done until midnight, and then you have a four-to-six-hour road trip the next day. It is a very taxing profession; however, very rewarding. I wouldn't trade it for anything."