CRESTVIEW— It hasn’t taken junior Zach Degraaf long to get comfortable as the Crestview High School baseball team's starting left fielder.
To say he is off to a hot start would be an understatement. He leads the Bulldogs in batting, posting an almost .700 average through the season's first two weeks. His on base percentage is close to .850.
“He’s been a bright spot for us all season,” Crestview baseball Coach Tim Gillis said. “He’s always been a hard worker and he’s seeing the fruits of that labor right now. He’s always on base.
“He’s just a tough out. He puts together quality at bats. He’s just a great kid and he works hard.”
We now catch up with Zach Degraaf.
Q:How old were you when you started playing baseball?
A: I was about 5 years old.
Q:What's the best part of baseball?
A: The teamwork.
Q:What's the worst part of baseball?
A: Losing.
Q:What are your expectations this season?
A:I think we have some potential, and I think we will go far.
Q:If you had to pick a different sport to play, what would it be?
A: Football, because it’s a contact sport.
Q:What is your favorite baseball experience?
A:Probably winning a championship with travel ball.
Q:What are your hobbies outside baseball?
A: I like hunting, fishing, riding four-wheelers and stuff like that.
Q:What's your dream career?
A:An engineer.
Q:Do you want to play college baseball?
A:Yes, but I’m not sure about the school. I like Alabama. It would be nice to go there.
Q:What is your favorite movie?
A:Probably “American Sniper.”
Q:Who is your favorite music group?
A:Rascal Flatts.
Q:If you could be a cartoon character, which one would you choose?
A:Scooby Doo, because he’s curious.
Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @cnb_sports, or call 682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bulldog baseball coach: starting left fielder 'a tough out'