
|
Los Angeles City Guides
|
Article History WASHINGTON (Map, News) - As a professional athlete you face pressure situations a lot. Sometimes you come through and other times you don’t. But by the time you reach the major leagues you pretty much know how well you cope.
I learned how to do that for the first time during high school when I played at Kellam High in Virginia Beach — one of the best baseball areas in the country with guys like David Wright (New York Mets), B.J. Upton (Tampa Bay) and Justin Upton (Arizona) reaching the majors from there.
The Virginia High School League baseball playoffs start all across the state next week, including locally in Northern Virginia. District and region tournaments are followed by the Group AAA state tournament in early June.
It’s exciting when you’re a young kid and have the chance to play in important games like that. If you keep winning you eventually get to travel and stay in a hotel with your teammates. It’s just a lot of fun.
But you can get caught up in the moment, too. That nervousness takes over. As I was put in those situations during high school I gradually got better at dealing with them. Our team at Kellam won the Eastern Region championship when I was a senior in 2002 and made it to the state semifinals. We lost to J.R. Tucker, 4-2, a tough way to end the season and my career. But those are memories I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
The lessons I took from those high school experiences helped me in the three years I played at the University of Virginia and then again in pro ball. That pressure is never easy to deal with. But at least when the game is on the line you can relax a little bit at the plate knowing that you’ve come through before.
As told to The Examiner’s Brian McNally.
Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is one of baseball’s rising stars and, at 23, the face of the franchise. Now he’ll share his thoughts with The Examiner’s readers each week throughout the baseball season.
Not ranked |
EMAIL ME THIS STORY |
ARTICLE HISTORY |
Sports
Business |
Real Estate Family Movies and Books Venues, Sports and Music Concerts, Artists and Tickets Be Inspired - Quotes and Stories |
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:37 PM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "High school pressure helps create success"
Report as inappropriate
1:23 AM MST on Sat., Aug. 25, 2007
re: "Preparing for road trips wears on players"
Report as inappropriate
11:38 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 22, 2007
re: "Zim still learning on the fly"
Report as inappropriate
8:12 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 22, 2007
re: "Zim still learning on the fly"
Report as inappropriate
9:13 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 4, 2007
re: "Tough start has not dampened Nats’ spirits"
Report as inappropriate
9:09 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 4, 2007
re: "‘Feels like you’re floating around the bases’"
Report as inappropriate
7:20 PM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007
re: "Clowns to the left, jokers to the right"
Report as inappropriate
6:01 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 19, 2007
re: "Zimmerman: The hits feel better in the later innings"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
I really wonder if Zimm writes it or tells the reporters and they put it on paper...Either way I love reading his articles!
3 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I wish my boss would send me on a road trip and pay me what these guys make.
217 agree | 233 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Love reading the articles by Zimm. It's a great way for the fan to get an inside glimpse of the Nats and how the team interacts with one another. The practical jokes on one another crack me up. I guess boys still play around in the locker room...even in the big league.
429 agree | 312 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
we are all very proud of Zimmy here in the DC area. Manny Acta and Lerner are going to field a competitive team a lot sooner than anyone thinks. By 2009 or 10, the Nats are going to be in contention for a pennant. They care a lot about the fans here and it shows.
284 agree | 256 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
As a huge Nats fan, it's hard to see them lose this many games, but it's good to know that the team is still positive.
464 agree | 268 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Ryan gives a great look into how it's like when you deliver the game winning hit.
271 agree | 292 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Great insight Ryan into what it's like in the clubhouse. It made me laugh!
402 agree | 354 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Ryan, thanks for writing this column. We're big fans of and wish you a lot lot luck! I'm curious your take on the element of luck that exists in baseball. I've noticed that you're hitting the ball well but many times it's right at an opposing player. How much of this can you control and how much of this is attributed to luck?
402 agree | 322 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree