University of Houston Athletics
Houston Baseball Spotlight: Clay Casey
9/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Clay Casey comes to Houston adter spending one season at Northwest Community College where he helped his team to a Mississippi State Runner-Up title and a final national ranking of No. 16. He was an All-Region and All-State outfielder. READ MORE ON Clay Casey
Q: When did you start playing baseball?
CC: I started playing baseball when I was five years old. I started with t-ball. My dad was big into baseball, football and basketball so I was always the tri-athlete. I loved football when I grew up, and I was a quarterback in high school, but I realized baseball is where it's at. My senior year I decided to make a decision to stick with baseball, and I have loved everything about it.
Q: What is your favorite baseball memory?
CC: My favorite memory was winning the National Championship when I was with the Dulins Dodgers. I was a 17-year old at the time playing with 18-year olds. It was the World Wood Bat Tournament and 296 teams were there and we finished first. It was an international event and there was a bunch of competition and talent. Then, I wish I could say the state championship we won, but we finished runner-up, but it was bittersweet because we made it to the state championship.
Q: Who are your favorite Major League players?
CC: My favorite active hitter is Albert Pujols. I love his swing, I love everything about him, and I love how he carries himself. On and off the field he's a role model, so ever since he was 19 years old playing with the Cardinals, I've loved him. Now, Mike Trout, obviously he's a five-tool athlete, he's got everything so I model him too.
Q: So why the University of Houston?
CC: I know a guy that knows the coaches really well so I talked to him a lot, and he told me I needed to get out of JUCO. I signed with Ole Miss (out of high school), went JUCO because I decided I wanted to get drafted, but it didn't work out. He was talking about how Houston was one of the best programs in the nation, and I did my research. I saw the Bauer School of Business, which is very prestigious, so it looked like a beneficial situation on both sides. As soon as I met the coaches and viewed the campus I wanted to come.
Q: What are some of your goals once college is over?
CC: Obviously for now baseball, but whenever that falls through, whenever that's over and whenever I retire I just want to do entrepreneurship basically. Be a business man.
Q: What are some of your personal goals this season?
CC: Last year in JUCO, I woke up at 4:30 a.m. in the morning and went and lifted weights. I drove an hour to my JUCO and then drove an hour back, so that was two hours of my day wasted. I just want to make better use of my time, and always be grinding. At 8 o'clock at night I want to be hitting or something. I just want to focus on baseball more here.
Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of baseball?
CC: I like ping-pong a lot.
Q: What are three things you couldn't live without on a road trip?
CC: I can't leave without my toothbrush or I will be crazy. I don't really need clothes because I just kind of wear the same pair the whole time. I would need my phone, charger and wallet for sure.
Q: If a former coach or teammate had to describe you in a few words, what would they say?
CC: I'm the hardest worker they know and I do everything right on the field and off the field.
Q: What are you most excited about this season?
CC: We have a really good team, so I'm excited about winning a championship with these guys.
