TicketsFeb. 4, 2007
This is the 13th in a 17-day series previewing the 2007 Bearcats baseball team. Today's installment features a look at sophomore infielder Josh Harrison.
by Elise Helene Keeler, UC Sports Communications Student Assistant
During his high school years at Princeton High, Josh Harrison flew under the radar. The coaching staff at the University of Cincinnati went after him, and they couldn't be more pleased with the success he has provided just after one season.
Becoming a Bearcat seemed like a perfect fit for Josh. "I wanted to find somewhere that wasn't too far away from home, but was like home." He has enjoyed the many benefits of living away from home, but reaps the extras of living so close to home. "I was still able to go home, wash clothes and get a home cooked meal."
Josh is a sophomore accounting major, who played well in high school, and he was named all-conference twice. His accolades at Princeton include helping the team to the state final hour, playing in East-West All-Star game, being named team MVP as a senior and serving as a two-year captain. He gave the Bearcats the same lift he provided for his high school team. He started in every game of his first season and led the team in hitting, runs, hits, and multi-hit games. The BIG EAST recognized his contributions to the team and named him to the Weekly Honor Roll after he batted 6 for 11 in a series at High Point. By the end of the season, he had hit five home runs, been named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, and was a third team All-BIG EAST selection.
His honors just don't end on the field either. Josh has been recognized for his performance in the classroom as well. He was named a Topcat and Bearcat Scholar, as well as to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star Team. He accounts much of his success to time management, but he gives good reason for that success. "You have to do it. If I didn't get good grades, I wouldn't get to play so I figure I might as well get the good grades."
This past summer he was selected to play for the Cincinnati Steam, which is part of the Great Lakes League. The league uses wooden bats instead of the metal bats that collegiate teams use. "I learned a little bit more about hitting with a wood bat. It got me a little bit of publicity because it was with a new team. The Cincinnati Steam is pretty much under the watch."
Josh comes from a baseball family. His brother Vince played in the minors and is one of Josh's role models. "Everything he says is good advice that I take to heart." Their cousin John Shelby III played for Kentucky and was drafted in 2006. The baseball line continues even deeper for this family; as Josh's uncle, John Shelby, played in the Majors and is a current coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. With all these people who have been in his position, Josh can turn to a lot of people, but "I really talk to my older brother. He's like my outlet."
Josh dreams of being in the shoes of his family members, but right now, he has a lot to look forward to in his second season. "We're trying to win a BIG EAST Championship. I'm going to do what I can to help the team out, but one player doesn't make the team. It's a team effort. They have us picked to be seventh, but we have a lot of new guys that they don't know about. I really feel like we can go out and play like we have nothing to lose."
He continues toward graduation, and life beyond college: "Hopefully, I'd like to play professional baseball, which has been my life long dream since I was three."
If baseball doesn't work or he finds himself wanting a change from accounting, he can turn to his other skill: singing. "I can sing. I don't rap. I leave that to my brother, who made my intro song. I've been known to sing a little bit, and I've got some vocal skills. I could be on American Idol right now."
When asked if he would have liked to perform in October's Bearcat Madness, he believed that he should have. "The winner would have been Josh Harrison," he says with a smile across his face. Maybe next year fans can see the talent of Josh Harrison, until then come out to the baseball field, and catch the Bearcats in their second season in the BIG EAST!