Braden River High stars sign letters-of-intent

BRADEN RIVER —There was a point eight months ago when it appeared as if Jerrod Leinhauser’s baseball career might be over.

The Braden River High pitcher was on the mound versus Manatee when a line drive hit him squarely in the face. Leinhauser had surgery to correct an orbital blowout, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the season.

But rather than letting his injury take him away from the game he loved, Leinhauser returned to the mound and spent the summer getting back into shape and working on his mechanics.

Leinhauser’s hard work paid off Nov. 12 when he, along with teammate Garrett Russini, signed a national letter-of-intent to play collegiate baseball.

“It was a lot of hard work,” Leinhauser said. “I’m just looking forward to being able to play at the next level.”
“It’s pretty amazing that he was able to come back,” coach Ryan Hilton said. “Now he’s (able to) get back on the hill and (continue) playing baseball.”

Leinhauser signed with the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne while Russini signed with Stetson University in DeLand.

“It’s a relief,” Russini said of signing. The process — it’s just stressful. The hardest part was probably just getting to where we are now.”

Leinhauser isn’t sure when he’ll get into the Panthers starting rotation, but he said the coaching staff is hoping to plug him in as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Russini has an opportunity to possibly become the Hatters’ starting catcher as a freshman if their catcher gets drafted in the spring.

“Garrett — since he’s been in the program — has been a solid defensive catcher,” Hilton said. “He has the instincts and the tools to be very successful. He’s gotten better about being in charge of the field and in command of the defense, and he has the experience to go on to the next level and be (successful).”

Russini, who has been the Pirates’ starting catcher since his sophomore year, chose Stetson over the University of Central Florida and Florida Atlantic University because of its Division I baseball program and academics.

“Stetson has a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, and education is (important) to me,” Russini said. “I’ll also be able to play with a few of my friends (who) are there. We’re actually going to be playing a lot of my former teammates, so it’ll be fun to see them and compete against my old teammates throughout college.”

Russini is leaning toward studyin sports management while Leinhauser plans to study forensic psychology.
But before Russini and Leinhauser head off to their respective universities, the two still have one more goal they hope to accomplish.

“I want to win one more district championship,” Russini said.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].