Shelton Grace — Konawaena’s top offensive threat this season — signed his national letter of intent recently to play college baseball at Penn State-DuBois, where he will help restart the program.
“I chose them because they gave me the best opportunity,” Grace said. “They promised me a starting position at shortstop and I feel they have the best program for my major, Kinesiology.”
Grace said he was offered a partial scholarship and also several grants that will cover around 70-80 percent of his expenses. He was also looking at several other schools inside the Penn State system, including Beaver and Altoona. Grace checked out Westminster College, which is also located in Pennsylvania.
Penn State DuBois has not had a baseball program in decades. The resurrected program will be under the leadership of head coach Tom Calliari. Calliari has coached at every collegiate level after playing NCAA Division II ball at Lock Haven University.
He started his career as an assistant on the main campus of Penn State in 1996 and he helped lead the team to its only Big Ten championship.
Since then the coach has taken on some very big challenges.
Calliari first helped to establish the Allegheny Mountain AAABA/NABF collegiate league, where he was the manager of the Keystone Baseball Academy from 1997 through 2002. He then went on to become co-director of the Triple Play Baseball Camp for six years at the DuBois Little League facility.
Grace is excited about playing for Calliari and helping to build a program.
“I like the fresh start because I will be part of building a foundation for the program,” Grace said.
Grace is having a stellar 2015 season which has resulted in his team clinching an HHSAA state berth after winning their doubleheader against the Cowboys. The shortstop is leading the team’s regular starters in batting average this season at .486. He has 17 hits, six walks, and has only struck out five times.
Grace credits his hitting this season to new coach Adam Taberios.
“Adam brought in more drills and fundamentals this season,” Grace said. “I feel smoother with my fielding and I have never hit like this before. I just try to keep my hands in and always go the opposite way with the outside pitch.”
Grace will have a chance to help his team claim the BIIF championship later this week at Wong Stadium in Hilo when the Wildcats take on Kamehameha.
