AJ Singer and Bryson Glassco did not begin their college journey on the starting lineup of one of the best Division I baseball teams in the country. Their journeys started with community college.
Singer came to Oregon State University last year from Iowa Western Community College. As a sophomore, he batted .396 with eight home runs, 81 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.
He talked about his experience as a community college athlete explaining, “I came from Iowa Western which isn’t really like Clackamas … I was spoiled a little bit.”
Iowa Western boasts an incredible facility with a full weight room, players lounge, indoor facility and a full astroturf field.
His first season as a Beaver was one for the books. The second baseman started in 64 games with three home runs and a batting average of .312 and a fielding percentage of .992. He was named to the College Baseball Foundation’s All-American first team.
“I think the goal is to make it back to Omaha and end up winning it eventually. That’s the goal as a team,” Singer said.
“Individually, I’m just looking to work with these younger guys because that’s something I want to do down the road. So mentoring them and then doing my thing, same thing I did last year, maybe even a little better.”
“It’s cool to hear everyone’s story and how they got here, whether it’s from Eli (Gries-Smith) coming from all the way on that side of the world or Clackamas just down the road with Bryson (Glassco). So it’s cool to hear how everyone got here.”
While Eli Gries-Smith hails from New Jersey and competed for the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff last year, Glassco looks to make an impact with the team in his first season, traveling just down the road to Corvallis from Clackamas Community College.
“I was pretty small in high school, I was pretty underdeveloped. I went up to Clackamas on a visit because I didn’t have many offers,” Glassco went on to say, “I liked the coaches, and it seemed like a place I wanted to be.”
In his final season with the Cougars, Glassco batted .438, a massive improvement from his freshman year, when he batted .233. He was named Second-Team All-American and Northwestern Athletic Conference South Player of the Year.
He spent his summer playing for the Portland Pickles to continue bettering his game. “You go up there and they’re cheering for you at every at bat for you, and the atmosphere is pretty cool as a hitter.”
Glassco looks to bring that momentum into his first season at Oregon State. “I was open to going anywhere, but finding a place like this, it was a quick yes for me.”
