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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 12, 2015     Shelton Mason County Journal
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February 12, 2015
 
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Thumday, Feb. 12, 2015 - Mason County Journal - Page B-1 NATIONAL SIGNING DAY North Point. Mason senior Daniel Burggraaf signs a letter Burggraaf leaves June 29 for New York. of commitment Feb. 4 to play baseball for the United States Journal photos~by Ernily,Hahson Military Academy at West North Mason senior to play baseball at prestigious academy By EMILY HANSON emily@masoncounty, com When Daniel Burggraaf talks about baseball, a twinkle shows in his eyes and he smiles. "Baseball's my love," the North Mason senior said Friday. "I've been waiting un- til graduation to focus on one sport and do what I love." His commitment to the sport came sooner than graduation. On National Signing Day on Feb. 4, Burggraaf signed a letter of commitment to pitch for the United States Military Academy at West Point. "They take the best of the best, so I was very honored to be accepted," Burg- graaf said. A GRUELING PROCESS Acceptance to West Point wasn't easy. The school has 12,000 applicants per year and accepts about 9 percent of them. In addition to passing the SAT -- Burggraaf scored 1,650 (620 math, 520 reading, 510 writing) -- Burggraaf had to pass a fitness test, supply three teacher evaluations of him, send in staff recommendations and have a congress- man or senator nominate him for West Point. The process began in August in Cen- tralia. Burggraaf tried out for the 2014 Last season, Burggraaf had a 4-3 record, innings to go along with his 1.19 ERA. Journal file photo recording 52 strikeouts in 47 Junior Baseball Northwest Champion- ships. As a pitcher for the academics team -- a squad for athletes who sport high GPAs -- Burggraaf said he threw the hardest half inning he's ever thrown. "I topped out at 88 mph," he said. That's when he caught the eye of Antho- ny DeCicco, West Point assistant baseball coach and head recruiting coordinator. "Daniel stuck out to me at the North- west Baseball 'Classic in Centralia where he showed a tremendously athletic de- livery, quick arm and an above average breaking ball," DeCicco said. After talking with DeCicco, Burg- graaf decided to visit the campus in West Point, New York. "There's nothing else like it," Burg- graaf said. "It's an amazing place." During a tour with members of the baseball team, Burggraaf said he tried to imagine himself in his possible future teammates' shoes. "Everything I saw there, I liked," Burggraaf said. From there, he began to complete the necessary steps to gain acceptance. "The main reason why we continued recruiting Daniel was because of the type of person he is and how well he repre- sented himself in every facet of the re- cruiting process," DeCicco said. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Har- bor) nominated Burggraaf for acceptance to West Point. see SIGNS, page B-6