CRESTVIEW — If there is an epitome of a bulldog on the Crestview baseball team, Roman Donofro would be that player.
Standing only 5-foot-7 or 5-foot-8, Donofro, a pitcher and outfielder, won't blow you over with his size, until you start measuring the size of this Bulldog's fight.
Donofro fulfilled a dream Monday when he signed a baseball scholarship to play for Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Ala. Donofro's teammate, Davis Champion, also signed with the Warhawks on Monday.
Donofro, also a standout on the Crestview basketball team, said his reason in picking Jeff Davis and baseball was simple.
"I just felt like it was a good fit for me," he said. "It just seemed like the place to be.
"Baseball has always been my No. 1 focus and priority. It's always been what I wanted to go further in."
Donofro's abilities on the baseball diamond surpass the mound. When he's not pitching, he's often in the outfield for the Bulldogs.
Crestview coach Tim Gillis said that what Donofro lacks in size he more than makes up for in talent and heart.
"Roman has always been a guy that has kind of overachieved as far as when you look at his stature," Gillis said. "But he's a guy that is a great competitor and when you have that kind of competitive drive the sky's the limit.
"Roman can play outfield and he can hit a little bit so he can help them out in several ways."
Warhawk assistant coach Adam Reed was on hand Monday to watch Donofro and Champion sign.
Reed said the Jeff Davis staff is always looking for players from Northwest Florida and they know when they sign a player from Crestview that they get a kid that has been well-coached by Gillis.
The Warhawks usually have four or five guys that pitch and also play another position and that, in time, Donofro is likely to get a look playing the outfield, but he will start his career on the mound, Reed said.
"The perfect way to describe him (Donofro) is a bulldog," Reed said. "We love the heart that he brings. We can tell he's got the energy.
"He's got all the pitches we need as far as his ability. I think he can throw a lot of strikes. I think he's going to be a guy that can step right in as a freshman and contribute."
Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Donofro impresses Warhawk coaches with his talent and heart