Pitcher Perfect

from Dublin Life June/July 2021

student spotlight Teen’s Gambit

Dublin Coffman alum gets his shot at the big leagues

By Rocco Falleti

Dublin Coffman alumnus Joey Murray has always had a deep appreciation for baseball. Although he is quick to admit he never thought he was anything special when he began to play the sport as a kid, baseball has remained a constant in his life.

In third grade, Murray was a member of the Dublin Green Sox and predominately played pitcher and occasionally the infield. As high school approached, he began to spend all his time on the pitcher’s mound.

Though baseball was something he enjoyed playing, he never thought it would become more than a hobby. As his high school career continued, Murray saw major improvements in his pitching and went from throwing 73 miles per hour as a freshman to breaking the mid-80s. Soon, college scouts took notice.

“I wasn’t projected to play professionally at that point but considered college baseball,” Murray says. “At that point, I always dreamed of playing pro but never thought it was in the realm of possibilities.”

A severe stomach virus forced him to miss a good portion of his junior year. He lost 25 pounds and began to rethink his goals of playing college ball.

“That was one of the toughest times for me mentally, let alone the physical aspect of it,” Murray says. “It was one of those things that I had to decide what I wanted to do. It would’ve been totally acceptable to ride it out and finish out my high school career and stop playing but I made a decision that I wasn’t ready to stop playing and do anything in my power to get back on the field.”

Murray decided that this was not going to end his baseball career and refocused as he entered his senior year. He boasted an

“The most important thing by far is to make sure you are having fun playing the game. If you love playing baseball, the hard work doesn’t typically feel like work.”

June Produce July Produce

Strawberries (U-Pick Available) Asparagus Tennessee Tomatoes Sweet Corn Cucumbers Berries Peaches Tomatoes Beans & more

Coming Fall 2021… Jacquemin Farms Bakery & Coffee June Hours: Monday–Saturday 9am–5pm July Hours: (after July 4th) Monday–Friday 9am–6pm 7437 Hyland Croy Road • Plain City, OH 43064 614-873-5725 • www.jacquemin.farm

For U-Pick details and more, follow us on &

PERSONAL SERVICE. EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS.

“Tricia was extremely professional and went above and beyond to make the process easier for us. She showed us a range of homes within our price point - which was helpful from a decision-making standpoint. She is very knowledgeable of Columbus and the surrounding areas. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner during a stressful time. She’s kept in touch since to ensure we are happy in our home. We can’t recommend her enough for anyone needing a realtor in the Columbus area.” -Scott M

Neil Mathias

Virgil Mathias Marlen Mathias

Tricia Koehler Kelsea Stokes

(UNLICENSED)

614.580.1662 Neil@NeilMathias.com RealEstateDublin.com

8-1 record with a 0.10 earned run average and 97 strikeouts.

“My support system, whether it was my mom, who has been with me my entire career especially when things were going bad, my fiancé Sydney, who I first started dating at Coffman, and I’ve had such tremendous coaches along the way like Coach (Tim) Saunders,” Murray says. “I don’t think I’d be playing baseball still if it weren’t for him and some of the connections he had in the game.” More Than a Game

After a successful stint as a pitcher at Kent State University, Murray was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the MLB draft in 2018. Like the majority of college athletes, he was eligible for the draft his junior year and forwent his senior year but still finished his degree.

His first season only lasted two months with the draft taking place in June. For many rookies, it is a way to get a routine going amid the new environment of professional baseball and start building a routine.

“Because our innings and playing time is limited, we did not have much of a chance to get called up to the next level (Low A). If they called us up to that level, it would’ve only been for a month or

Visit the Historic Dublin business District

Health and beauty have been a part of Historic Dublin since a “blowout”explained how you turned off the lights.

130 yearS ago, if you walked out of a barber shop in Historic Dublin with a handle bar mustache, you were keeping up with the times – not making a hipster facial hair statement. Since those early days, barber shops, salons, spas, clothing boutiques and health medicine experts have been shaping, coloring, blow drying, waxing, buffing, brushing, massaging, polishing, dressing and botoxing clients to make them look and feel their very best. Whether the pandemic has put you in need of a grooming reboot, a wardrobe refresh or a little cosmetic surgery, you’ll find the help you need in the Historic Dublin Business district.

less which in the grand scheme of things, would not have an impact on our development,” Murray says. “Our first season was just to get the feel for pro baseball and to learn what daily life and travel will be like.”

While being a professional baseball player is a dream of many, Murray has quickly learned that the reality is often much more challenging than one imagines.

“The biggest thing is how much time it takes. One of the toughest things throughout the season is a mental game,” Murray says. “Your body is feeling decent for it being August, but that mental grind of being away from your friends and family can be pretty challenging. The guys who have the most sustained success are the ones that can avoid hitting that wall late in the season and continue to push through.” To the Aspiring Little Leaguer

Murray is modest about the time spent in the MLB and he now waits for his callup from the Triple-A squad to take the mound in a professional game. What has stuck out the most to him is his team’s dedication to each of its players.

“The culture amongst players and staff is equal to none. Everyone is solely determined to help you become the best you can be,” Murray says. “If you ask for help, you are going to have a whole support team doing everything in their power to help you.”

When asked about what advice he would provide to a Dublin youth baseball player, Murray’s wisdom centers on not only putting in the hard work but realizing the time and commitment that dream is going to take.

“If you aren’t the best, then somebody’s better than you. … If you are doing the same amount of work, you are getting better at the same rate,” Murray says. “To get better than them, you have to put in more time, effort and energy, and make those tough decisions like not skipping those workouts where no one will be at.”

But most important, remaining passionate about the game is Murray’s foremost piece of advice.

“The most important thing by far is to make sure you are having fun playing the game,” Murray says. “If you love playing baseball, the hard work doesn’t typically feel like work. There are times you may not be feeling like doing it, but when you love the game, those tough decisions become easier.”

Rocco Falleti is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

HealtH & BeautyHealtH & Beauty

BuSINeSSe BuSINeSSeS IN HIStorIc DuBS IN HIStorIc DuBlIN lIN Biologico BeautyBiologico Beauty Boho 72 BoutiqueBoho 72 Boutique Donaldson Plastic SurgeryDonaldson Plastic Surgery Dublin Barber ShoppeDublin Barber Shoppe Dublin House of BeautyDublin House of Beauty Modern Male SpasModern Male Spas t the Beauty collectivehe Beauty collective t the Woodhouse Day Spahe Woodhouse Day Spa

Discover more about these businesses at:Discover more about these businesses at: historicdublin.org/membershistoricdublin.org/members

COMING IN THE JULY ISSUE! ‘Bus Best Best of the ‘Bus 2021

Check out CityScene readers’ picks starting July 1 on CitySceneColumbus.com

Your source for the BEST Eat + Drink • Events • Travel • Home Health • Shopping • Entertainment

Drive, Chip, Putt – Win

30-foot putt solidifies Dublin Golfer’s champion title

By Mallory Arnold

Brady Barnum, seventh-grader at St. Brigid of Kildare, is the 10-11 age group champion of the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. The 12-year-old athlete played his heart out at the April 4 event, which was the final leg of a long journey.

Drive, Chip and Putt is a youth golf development joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America and the USGA. Thousands of talented junior golfers had the opportunity to qualify, but 300 athletes made the cut in summer 2019. From there, golfers advanced through more than 60 subregionals. Barnum was one of the 80 winners across the four age divisions who moved on to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.

Q&A with Brady Barnum

Dublin Life: How did you first become involved in golf?

Brady Barnum: I started playing golf when I was 3 years old. My dad took me to a golf lesson with Rocky Miller at Ables Golf Range off of Avery Road. I loved it and I kept playing and taking lessons after that.

DL: Where would you lay claim to your home course?

BB: Muirfield Village Golf Club. I am very fortunate. sive 30-foot putt. What was going through your mind during that putt?

BB: Not much. I stuck to my process, hit the putt, played the right enough break, the ball luckily went in and I did a fist pump.

DL: Your dad seems like one of your biggest supporters – is there some advice he gave you that you will always remember?

BB: Hard work pays off. Your success in golf and in life is from hard work.

DL: Do you have any lucky items or superstitions?

BB: I never play with a golf ball with the No. 2.

DL: How often do you practice?

BB: I am trying to get out and practice every day and play as much as possible. Most of your practice should be on your short game.

DL: What’s your favorite part of golf?

BB: I love to learn new things. I love the short game, iron game and competing at a high level across the country.

DL: What are your goals for the future?

BB: I am committed to becoming a professional golfer. I want to be a role model for all golfers and to work as hard as I can to be the No. 1 golfer in the world someday.

Mallory Arnold is an editor. Feedback welcome at marnold@cityscenemediagroup.com.