Franklin Regional senior baseball player Matt Maropis went into the recruiting process with one goal - to get it over early.
Maropis did that with an early commitment to the University of Maryland, where he signed this week.
Pitt, Delaware, Cincinnati and James Madison were his other top choices.
"I had a bunch of offers," Maropis said. "Basically, (I chose Maryland) because it was the (Atlantic Coast Conference). That's the biggest thing. It's the second best conference in the nation. That and they were saying I could start as a freshman. The scholarship helped, too. It was a hard choice."
"He couldn't go wrong with all those schools," Franklin Regional coach Larry Wayman said.
A year from now, Maropis will be the second college baseball player in the family. Older brother Pete is a sophomore shortstop at Duquesne.
"He signed early, but Duquesne was it for him," Matt Maropis said. "He helped. He said (signing early) was a plus for him. We wanted to get it out of way. I knew I wanted to sign early. We told all the schools that. That makes it a little easier to concentrate on my senior year, to concentrate on baseball."
Maropis will be a third-year starter at Franklin Regional this year. He played second base with his brother at shortstop, two years ago. He went on to earn a spot in the East-West Legion All-Star Game before his junior year while playing for the Murrysville American Legion team.
Maropis shifted over to shortstop last year and was a key part of Franklin Regional's WPIAL Class AAA championship team, batting .400 in the second spot in the order.
"He's progressed so much so fast for us," Wayman said. "His work ethic and demeanor on and off the field."
Maropis is also a standout in the field.
"He has great hands, a super arm," Wayman said. "He has good feet, and the mental part of playing shortstop, he has that. He can see things happen before they actually happen, which you want a shortstop to do."
Maropis was at his best in the playoffs. He singled twice, doubled and drove in two runs in Franklin Regional's 10-0 victory over Montour in the WPIAL semifinals, then had three hits and four RBI in his team's 9-8 victory over Mt. Lebanon in the championship game.
Maropis singled home the tying run in the sixth inning of that contest, then drove in the game-winner in the eighth.
"He hit well all season and showed more in the playoffs," Wayman said.
Maropis went on to play in a wood bat league this summer in Johnstown.
"It's 21-and-under, so there was some college competition in there," Maropis said. "That helped. Any time you can use (wood) bats, it's helpful."
Maropis will be part of a younger team this year. The Panthers also return a strong junior class - catcher J.T. Hredzki, first baseman Mike Yerecic and outfielders Sean Locklin and Mike McAfoose.
"He's got to be a leader this year," Wayman said. "We are counting on that."
Maropis said he liked the campus and the coaching staff at Maryland. He took two trips to check it out. Terry Rupp is in his second year as Maryland's head coach.
"They are really nice guys," Maropis said.
Maropis said he did receive forms to fill out for major league baseball scouts and has gotten some calls.
"We are looking at it, but I want to go to school, probably," Maropis said. "It might change, but I'll probably be at school."
