BUTLER’S RYAN MAS TO PITCH FOR UNC CHARLOTTE NEXT SEASON

After many years of hard work, Butler High School senior Ryan Mas has earned a scholarship opportunity to play baseball for the UNC-Charlotte Forty-Niners.  The seventeen year old son of Christopher and Linda Mas will take to the pitcher’s mound at UNC-Charlotte following his senior season for the Butler Bulldogs.

Ryan is glad to have the decision in the rear-view mirror and talks about how the recruiting process flowed for him.

“The recruiting process was frustrating.  I was always worried about whether I was good enough to play college baseball.  I communicated with several different schools but my number one choice was always UNC-Charlotte even before I started contacting them.”

“I first heard from UNC-Charlotte when I sent an email to the pitching coach, Coach Hall, and I attached a video of a bullpen session I threw.  I got an email back the next day and Coach Hall asked me who I played showcase ball with and for our schedule.  I replied and continued to contact him with the games I would be starting throughout the tournaments.  I threw one of my best games of the summer against the Lake Monsters at Guilford College and luckily Coach Hall was there along with several other schools.  After that tournament we talked on the phone several times and set up a date for me to visit.  I made my first visit there in the middle of June.”

  Ryan was sold on UNC-Charlotte after his visit.

“I knew that was the place I wanted to continue my career.  The campus was amazing, the coaches know the game and I got along very well with them, I knew the pitching coach, Coach Hall, could make me a lot better, and UNC-Charlotte is one of the top D1 schools in the country as far as baseball is concerned consistently hovering in the top 20 and they make a run at the College World Series consistently.”

Ryan counts the close distance to his home and the connection with the coaches as his two biggest factors in the decision. He chose the Charlotte over UNC-Greensboro, Campbell, Wingate, Pfeiffer, Furman, UNC-Asheville, East Carolina and Western Carolina.

Ryan is now looking forward to the spring and helping Butler contend inside the toughest baseball conference in the state, The Southwestern 4A Conference.  The decision also gives Ryan the chance to reflect on his days as a little league player at MARA.  He learned some valuable lessons during those years.

“Coach Steve Lundberg at MARA taught me that it’s not always about how well you perform, but how you pursue your goals and respect others.  I will never forget the trip he took me on to a needy family's house in Charlotte and we exchanged Christmas gifts with them.  We gave them old Game Boys and gift cards and we got pencils and stuff like that in return.  It really made me stop and think about how thankful I should be that I have a home and other luxuries that these people don't.”

With those lessons in mind and the college scholarship opportunity in hand, Ryan can now give thanks to some of the people that helped him find success.

“I want to thank my parents and my sister Shannan first and foremost because without them none of this is possible.  They got me to my games and supported me throughout all my decisions as a young man and athlete.  They did more than I could ever ask for.  I also want to thank Bill and Billy Harden.  These guys have been my coaches for both Babe Ruth and travel ball with the Carolina Twisters and I can't thank them enough.  They taught me how to respect the game, respect my teammates and play better.  I firmly believe they got me to the next level and they have been my best coaches and closest friends for a long time.  I also want to thank all my teammates for their support throughout my decision.”

It’s important to note that Ryan also found success inside the classroom by recording a 3.5 grade point average. Ryan realized early on that grades are the most important thing and that it takes more than talent to find success in college baseball.

The South Charlotte Sports Report salutes Ryan Mas for his hard work and dedication to the game of baseball.  Good luck this season and in the future!