Sports Spotlight: Will Ross, West Orange baseball

West Orange junior pitcher Will Ross is lighting it up on the mound for the Warriors baseball team so far this season. The University of Florida commit has been dominant for West Orange — and, prior to spring break had given up zero earned runs against 99 batter faced while recording 42 strikeouts.
 

When did you first get into playing baseball?

I was around 2 or 3, and pretty much my parents signed me up for a bunch of sports. My mom played softball in high school and college — so it was just always kind of there — and they signed me up for sports, and it ended up being my favorite.
 

What was it that drew you to baseball?

I’d say it always just kind of appealed to my interest, because it was a team sport and an individual sport at the same time. You’re always competing against yourself when it comes to pitching, because nothing happens unless you throw the ball and you get to choose where it goes and once you throw the ball it’s out of your hands. Everything changes on every pitch, so it always keeps it interesting.
 

Have you always been a pitcher?

Not really, when I was younger I used to hit — I was a first baseman. I always kind of liked hitting, but then pitching, I started figuring it out more and figuring out my mechanics and everything. I always loved pitching, it’s just I kind of struggled with it and then I just figured stuff out and it became my favorite thing to do.
 

What has been the biggest change you’ve seen in yourself since you first started pitching?

Probably my mechanics. I started working with a new pitching coach when I was 12, and it took around a year or so to figure out everything and get everything working together on all three pitches.
 

What is your favorite part about playing at West Orange?

Probably just the history of it all; our field isn’t like anyone else’s — it kind of has its own unique feel to it. Also, my mom played here — she went to high school here — so it’s a cool feeling that she played over there and she is in the hall of fame at the school for softball. 
 

What’s your favorite thing about being a pitcher? The most challenging part?

My favorite thing about it is kind of having control of the game — knowing it’s my job, anything that happens I have to start it technically when pitching. The most challenging would probably be maintaining everything that I do from the first inning to the sixth or seventh inning, and if something goes wrong staying mentally sharp and not letting it bother you.
 

You’ve committed to playing baseball at the University of Florida. How are you feeling about that?

I’m pretty excited about it obviously. It was always my dream school growing up, so whenever I got the
opportunity to go there I jumped on it instantly because it’s my dream school.