BonnerSprings.com

The road from high school pitcher with a wrecked elbow to the ace of a Division I staff has been long and winding. Tommy John surgery quite possibly could have ended the career of promising pitcher Jeremy Sheehan. Instead, the former Basehor-Linwood star used it as motivation to work hard enough to strengthen his pitching arm and ultimately improve his velocity and earn a scholarship to college baseball's highest level.

"It was really difficult, because it was my senior year (of high school)," Sheehan said. "All my buddies were leaving for college, and I was sitting at home. But I just kept working hard. My family, my parents, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, my cousins, they were there supporting me every day. My friends were too. They helped me hold my head up. I worked as hard as I could so I wouldn't be done with baseball. It was tough, but I knew I had the confidence to do it."

Sheehan, a 2003 BLHS grad, spent his freshman year taking classes at Johnson County Community College and rehabbing his elbow. The year allowed Sheehan to begin college while not forfeiting a year of baseball eligibility. It also afforded him a year to stay close to home while frequently visiting the doctor's office and strengthening the injured arm.

The next year Sheehan enrolled at Cowley College, a community college in Arkansas City, Kansas, and reclaimed his baseball career. The redshirt freshman proved he was completely healed, going 7-0 with a 3.40 ERA. The team won the Jayhawk Conference while finishing 47-14.

Sheehan celebrated by taking the summer off. His first year back in baseball had necessitated a rest for an overworked arm.

Sheehan entered his sophomore year on the team as the undisputed ace of the staff. He started the first game of the year as well as the first game of most series. Cowley's leaky bullpen and porous defense turned Sheehan's excellent 1.81 ERA into a 6-2 record. Both losses were a result of unearned runs.

Sheehan earned First Team All-Jayhawk Conference honors and was second in the conference in ERA. Cowley won the conference again.

Large universities had taken notice. Kansas, New Mexico State, Southern Mississippi and Iowa all expressed interest.

"I was going to have to settle for a lot less money going with one of them," Sheehan said. "I would have pitched less, being a lot lower on the depth chart. I wanted to go somewhere and start. If I went to a Big 12 or a Big 10 school, I figured it would be tougher to get innings, because I would probably be throwing out of the bullpen. And I wasn't comfortable with that. I wanted to go somewhere and be the guy that gets thrown out there against the bigger teams. I wanted to be the 'number one.' At Centenary I was able to do that."

Centenary received strong competition from Jacksonville University for Sheehan's services.

"Jacksonville had a third baseman that had been drafted (in the Major League Baseball amateur draft), and they weren't sure how much money (in scholarships) they could give me," Sheehan said. "They didn't know if he was going to sign or stay at school. If he was going to sign, they would have been able to offer more money to me."

Centenary offered an 80 percent scholarship. They also told Sheehan he could go in and eventually be an ace. That's all Sheehan needed to hear. He was done waiting for Jacksonville.

Sheehan was Centenary's No. 2 starter this past year, finishing with an 8-5 record- the same mark as the senior ace pitcher. Sheehan posted a disappointing 4.40 ERA, while starting 16 games and throwing 90 innings.

"I had some good wins and some bad losses," Sheehan said.

One of the better wins came against Kansas State, a performance that netted the Mid-Continent Conference Pitcher of the Week award. Centenary beat Kansas State 4-1. Sheehan went 7 innings and surrendered one run, announcing he was also a capable pitcher at the highest level of collegiate competition.

Sheehan is ready to become the ace of the staff this year as a senior.

"It doesn't bring too much pressure," Sheehan said. "I am excited at the chance. I am really excited to get the season started. This could be my last year, so I want to have a good season and possibly go on to play pro ball. I definitely have a goal to drop my ERA at least a run, get it in the 3's. I would also like to have a 10-win season."

Sheehan has spoken to baseball scouts, who inform the former Bobcat that he must raise his velocity into the lower 90s to become a draftable prospect. Sheehan currently tops out at 89.

Sheehan hasn't forgotten his high school roots, despite a long and strange journey that has culminated in success on a big stage.

"It's tough coming from a small school in Kansas," Sheehan said. "Kansas doesn't get too much respect in terms of high school sports in general. I want to keep going, keep having success, so Basehor-Linwood baseball can get on the map. If I keep having success, I can play pro ball, and hopefully that will help the program."