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Many of us have nailed the winning shot at the buzzer, set a new world record, scored the go-ahead touchdown, or hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning for our favorite team. And then we snap out of our daydreams. The vast majority of us will never get the call that we’ve been selected to play a sport at the professional level as several Shippensburg University athletes did this year. BY CHRIS ECKSTINE ’14
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n June, Raiders pitcher Gabe Mosser ’18 and shortstop Cash Gladfelter were selected in the twenty-seventh round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. Mosser was drafted by the San Diego Padres, while Gladfelter, selected just seven picks later, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners when he was a junior. These are the first Ship selections in the MLB Draft since 2008. Later that month, their teammate, outfielder Dalton
Hoiles, signed a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Then in August, the all-time leading scorer in Ship men’s basketball history, Dustin Sleva, signed a contract with Paris Basketball to play professionally in France. Ship may not be known for producing top tier sports superstars, but chances to compete at the next level are possible for those willing to put in the work. The same goes for anyone looking to break into professional sports in other areas.
Did you watch the MLB All-Star Game held this summer at Nationals Park? You may not have been aware that a Ship grad was tabbed to be the official scorer for that ten-inning affair. Ben Trittipoe received his master’s degree from Ship in 1990 and has served as an official scorer for the Washington Nationals since 2005. In the Washington metropolitan area another Ship grad works for a pro team. Perry Mattern produces content for the Washington Redskins’ digital and social media platforms. He interviews players,
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SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
