By Joe Skinner and Owen Gotimer
LoCoSports Editors
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Aldie (August 19, 2016) — John Champe High School senior Yareb Martinez has committed to continue his baseball career at Division I Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. starting in the 2017-2018 school year.
“Georgetown has a great education where I can get a good degree [and also]has a great DI baseball program,” Martinez said. “As soon as I stepped a foot on campus, I fell in love with it and knew it was the right place for me to spend the next four years of my life.”
Martinez has been a varsity player at John Champe for three years under head coach Joe McDonald.
“Playing for Coach Joe McDonald has really made me a better, more mature player and person that understand the game more in depth in between the lines,” Martinez said.
In 2016, the Knights’ season ended when John Champe fell to eventual state runner-up Liberty Christian Academy in the first round of the VHSL 4A West region tournament.
“I love the atmosphere at Champe,” Martinez said. “As good teammates, we are always supporting each other. That really makes you play a lot looser, knowing you got people who support you, no matter what happens they are cheering you on.”
Georgetown is coached by Pete Wilk, who enters his 18th year at the helm of the Hoya program in 2017. With 348 wins, Wilk is the all-time winningest coach in Georgetown baseball history and looks to get back to the Big East tournament after failing to qualify in 2016.
“I will be adding to the Georgetown baseball program a great competitor who loves to do the best during practices and games. I’m a teammate who is always positive. No matter if one of my teammates is in a slump, or on a hitting streak, I will always be there for them,” said Martinez who will play middle infield for the Hoyas. “I’m not a person who is satisfied with just doing the minimum. I’m always working hard, so I can achieve my dreams. I also will be adding speed, hitting and good defense to the team. Lastly, I’m looking forward to learn as much as I can from my teammates and coaches to play the best I can at this level.”
Having already created a relationship with his college coach, Martinez knows the decision he made to attend Georgetown was the right one.
“It feels like stress was just lifted off my shoulders after I made the call to coach Wilk to express my decision to become part of the Hoya baseball team,” Martinez said. “I’m just happy that all those nights I spent in the cages practicing and working out with my dad until midnight really paid off.”
