RAYMONDVILLE — Raymondville athlete Jayson Cantu picked baseball for the sport that he will continue to play at the next level, signing Friday with Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
“It is a great accomplishment,” he said. “Ever since I was little, I started playing baseball when I was 3, it has been a main goal of mine. I am glad to accomplish it and play at the next level.”
Cantu plays first base for the Bearkats and also pitches. Cantu did everything for the school during his time there.
Cantu was the quarterback on the football team, starting center for the basketball team, a thrower on the track & field team and a regional golf qualifier.
But baseball is his best sport, he said.
“I have a lot of people telling me it is. I think it is,” Cantu said. “It is something that comes naturally, but I am ready to put in the hard work to get ready for next year.”
The all-around athlete will play first base at OLLU. Cantu might pitch, but the velocity on his pitches needs to rise. Cantu said it could with a healthy college-level strength and conditioning program.
Because of the fact that he is a multi-sport athlete, a robust strength and conditioning program eluded the senior because of constantly playing sports. The summer is the only chance to gain strength due to the overlap. Most single-sport athletes have around six to eight months to prepare their body for the next season.
At OLLU, Cantu plans to study mathematics with a minor in kinesiology. The senior hopes to become an athletic director one day.
The proximity of OLLU was on his mind when he picked the school.
“My parents are a big help in everything I do,” he said. “San Antonio is only a four-hour drive. I am pretty sure they are going to be there as much as they can. That means a lot to me.”
