It’s 4 PM on a Wednesday afternoon, and while most CVHS students are packing up to head home, Senior Theodore Herce is just beginning his warmup on the baseball field. As he approaches the plate, his eyes are locked on the pitcher’s mound. He swings as the pitch comes in, and a solid crack echoes across the field. He springs through the bases, racing home to secure a triumphant home run. Yet, even amidst celebration, Herce’s mind is already set on the next play.
That kind of focus has led to Herce having earned an offer to play at Wharton County Junior College. Herce, now officially a committed athlete, was drawn towards the sport from a young age.
“My dad played [baseball] in college and then professionally, and my love of the game really came from him. I started playing t-ball when I was about three or four, and I played little league at elementary school,” Herce said.
While he originally played baseball purely for enjoyment, Herce realized that he had to up his game as he grew older and he started competing at higher levels.
“In 7th grade I transitioned from just playing for fun to really competing against better competition. Sophomore year was really the turning point for me, as I started playing travel baseball at a much higher level.”
This transition didn’t come easily for Herce, as he initially had to navigate playing competitive baseball with the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rigorous course load at Carnegie further limited the time he could devote to the sport, with Herce noting that his mental focus played a key role in his success.
“I definitely underwent a transformation, and a lot of it was mental as when you’re playing against better competition, you have to be mentally locked in on the game. My desire to be really good coupled with my time management helped me progress in my athletic career.”
Herce’s focus allowed him to clinch several accolades, including placing at national competitions with his travel team or becoming the 1st team all-district pitcher for the UIL district 19-5A team. However, as Herce describes, his journey wasn’t without its obstacles.
“Injuries definitely played a big role in shaping my career. I got my worst injury during the fall of my junior year, when I snapped my thumb and had to get surgery. That limited my playing time from September to December, and I injured my hamstring at the beginning of 2024,” Herce said.
As he describes, the effects of his injury weren’t purely physical. In fact, his injuries often had a much greater mental impact.
“I spent five months doing physical therapy three times a week, and it was mentally taxing knowing that I couldn’t be on the field,” Herce said.
Herce’s determination allowed him to quickly bounce back and resume playing the game he cherished.
“Physically, it took a lot of hard work and re-strengthening, and I was just constantly doing a lot of weight lifting and mobility exercises to rehabilitate my hamstring. However, my desire to play is really what kept me going.”
Herce ended up committing to Wharton County Junior College. Despite receiving interest from several D1 schools, he took an unconventional approach to the college admissions process.
“Most players look at the school with the most prestige, but playing time is something that really matters to me. I feel that at junior college, I would get more playing which I could use to improve my skills and potentially transfer to a D1 institution after my two years.”
Looking back, Herce is proud of his baseball career. Whether or not he ends up pursuing the sport professionally, he aims to always maintain a connection with the game.
“My dream is to play in professional leagues, but that’s definitely hard to attain. Even if I don’t end up achieving that goal, I hope to consider serving as a leader in the sport, inspiring others to take up the game that I’ve loved so much.”
