Bates Scholarship: Orrville's Marshall sees dedication to baseball pay off

For as long as he can remember, Brady Marshall has been on the baseball diamond.

All of those years of tagging along with his father Scott watching Orrville baseball practices developed into a passion for the sport that the senior has today.

It’s something that has helped Marshall become one of the best players to ever have gone through the program and his success on the field, and in the classroom, is a model for future Red Rider players to come.

“From the time I could stand, he had a bat and ball in my hands,” Brady said. “It has been an incredible experience playing for my dad. He has influenced my passion for the game without a doubt.

“My mom and dad have spent countless time and effort to help me get to where I am today.”

That dedication for the sport is one of many reasons he has earned one of the eight Roy. S. Bates Scholarships, which are given annually by the Bates Foundation.

And for his father Scott, who is in his 19th season guiding the Orrville program, it wasn’t just Brady’s early exposure to the sport — it was the fact that he hasn’t really left it since, watching his older brother Lane play the sport and then being a leader for the current Red Rider team.

“I have fond memories of Brady attending high school open gyms and practices when he was in grade school,” he said. “He was able to see how hard they worked and knew, from an early age, what it would take to be successful.

“There were very few days growing up where he wasn’t working to perfect his craft.”

The result has been a four-year career decorated with accomplishments and an opportunity to play Division I baseball at Kent State.

An efficient hitter at the plate, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Marshall has nearly 140 stolen bases over his prep career — something he perfected not only in his time with Orrville but playing for the T3 Warhawks out of Avon and working with local coach Jeff Carr on his explosiveness.

Last spring, the shortstop was a second-team All-PBR selection last spring after batting .400, posting an on-base percentage of .491 and swiping an area-best 39 stolen bases. He also can play catcher, something that will give some versatility in college.

“I have always been very competitive, no matter what the activity is or what is on the line,” said Marshall, who also spent two seasons on the school’s football team as a wide receiver and free safety. “I have grown up my entire life around baseball and competition and it is something I am very passionate about.”

It’s something that his coach, and father, has been able to watch develop in him throughout the years.

More importantly, however, is the person that he’s become through his athletic and academic careers.

“It has been extremely gratifying for both my wife Shawna and I to watch Brady develop into the player that he has become,” Scott said. “I think the biggest compliment I can give Brady is that he makes the players around him better. He is a great teammate and always places his team ahead of himself.

“He has been positive, consistent and been an exemplary representative of our baseball program.”

And among all the honors, from All-Ohio to All-PBR, being among the limited recipients of the Roy Bates Scholarship speaks to everything he is both on and off the diamond.

“This award means the most to me because it will help me reach my goals,” said Brady, who plans on studying business at Kent State. “It has been a great time playing with my friends and peers that I grew up with. I will miss joking and having fun with teammates that I have grown up with the most.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Bates Scholarship: Orrville's Marshall sees love for baseball pay off