Life's lessons give Shipman new focus
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 15, 2014 1:48 PM
rcoggins@newsargus.com
MOUNT OLIVE -- Rob Shipman wondered if he'd ever get a chance to play college baseball again.
Family hardship and lack of focus in the classroom took Shipman away from the diamond, and quickly forced him to learn to some of life's lessons.
Shipman had to put aside his dreams of getting a walk-off hit and making that game-saving play. He no longer had teammates depending on him, but a family instead that needed help putting food on the table and paying bills.
"I learned that hard times don't last," Shipman said. "I learned that everybody goes through it and in the end, it helps you grow ... taught me how to be a man. Every time something is hard, you don't quit because you've got somebody depending on you to get through.
"I feel like I'm a better person for it. If you work, good things will happen. It's a life lesson I needed."
But would it cost Shipman his baseball career?
The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder started 38 of 44 games during his freshman season at the University of Georgia. He struggled in the classroom and transferred to Chattahoochee Valley (Ga.) Community College.
CVCC endured a season-ending loss in opening-round play in its conference tournament. A declining economy forced Shipman to store his glove and cleats with the hopes he'd step onto the diamond again once he helped his family get back on his feet.
That time finally came.
University of Mount Olive head coach Carl Lancaster had searched in vain for a power-hitting first baseman and contacted Shipman's coach at CVCC. The Trojans needed some middle-of-the-order power and someone to protect preseason All-American Bradon Reitano in the lineup.
Lancaster called Shipman.
"I told coach 'if you can find a way to get me in, I'm there,'" Shipman said.
Lancaster did.
Despite a two-year layoff, Shipman filled the void and delivered a .379 batting average along with 54 RBI to the top part of the lineup. He earned first-team all-Conference Carolinas honors and helped the Trojans claim the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional this year.
"The first few weeks we knew we were going to have to live with him shaking off the rust and just let him get back into the swing of things," UMO assistant coach Rob Watt said. "The great thing was that he was willing to learn and make adjustments -- and (he) wanted to know our system offensively and defensively.
"He got himself in better shape and has continued to get better the whole time."
Shipman is one of seven Trojans who have pounded out 50 or more hits this season. He ranks second on the team behind Reitano in RBI (54) and slugging percentage (.627); fourth in extra-base hits (18) and fourth in walks (25).
UMO hits .335 as a team. The Trojans rank third nationally in runs per game (8.9), third in total runs scored (452), third in stolen bases (146) and third in sacrifice flies (37).
Watt described Shipman as the "best Christmas present we could possibly get."
Shipman is just happy to play again.
"For a person who sat out two years, hadn't picked up a bat and not see live pitching, I think it's been pretty solid," said Shipman.