2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball player 'one of the finest leaders'
Josh Weaver
Issue date: 5/15/07 Section: Sports
Senior right-handed pitcher Corey Cabral is winding up his athletic and academic careers at San Jose State University.
Five years of hard work and dedication will culminate in a couple of weeks, as Cabral will walk off the mound for the final time and across the stage to receive his business degree.
Cabral's passion for baseball and drive for success are characteristics his mother said he possessed even at a young age.
"When he was younger, we knew he would do well. He was always so serious," Pam Cabral said.
She recalls her son even at the age of 12 expressing his love for the game.
"The other kids were playing for the snow cone at the end of the game," she said. "He was playing to win and do well. He enjoyed the mental battle between the pitcher and the batter. He just loved to pitch."
After graduating from Jesuit High School in Sacramento, Cabral made his way to SJSU and stepped on the mound for his first appearance in a Spartan jersey in 2003 during his freshman season.
"My first game didn't go well," Cabral said. "I was kind of naive to Division I competition."
Despite experiencing some of the toils of a freshman competing at a high level, one of Cabral's favorite games was a seven-inning performance against the University of Hawaii, propelling his team to victory and avoiding a three-game sweep.
After two successful seasons, Cabral was a 2005 preseason All-WAC selection going into his junior year, a season that was cut short because of an injury.
Arm trouble limited Cabral's performance the following year and he was faced with the decision of returning to the team for the 2007 season.
"A lot of the young guys wanted me to stay," Cabral said. "I felt I could be the captain and help a lot of guys out. I didn't want to play two years and then crap out. I wanted to leave the program in good standing."
Head coach Sam Piraro spoke very highly of his fifth-year pitcher and said Cabral is the kind of player that a coach values.
"Corey is probably one of the finest leaders we have had in our program in any sport at San Jose State, not just baseball," Piraro said. "He's just one of those guys during the course of a career a you hope you get the opportunity to coach. It was a real privilege to have been associated with him."
Cabral said he will focus on finding a management position during the summer and after he establishes himself and his career, he plans on returning to SJSU to earn his masters in business administration.
Five years of hard work and dedication will culminate in a couple of weeks, as Cabral will walk off the mound for the final time and across the stage to receive his business degree.
Cabral's passion for baseball and drive for success are characteristics his mother said he possessed even at a young age.
"When he was younger, we knew he would do well. He was always so serious," Pam Cabral said.
She recalls her son even at the age of 12 expressing his love for the game.
"The other kids were playing for the snow cone at the end of the game," she said. "He was playing to win and do well. He enjoyed the mental battle between the pitcher and the batter. He just loved to pitch."
After graduating from Jesuit High School in Sacramento, Cabral made his way to SJSU and stepped on the mound for his first appearance in a Spartan jersey in 2003 during his freshman season.
"My first game didn't go well," Cabral said. "I was kind of naive to Division I competition."
Despite experiencing some of the toils of a freshman competing at a high level, one of Cabral's favorite games was a seven-inning performance against the University of Hawaii, propelling his team to victory and avoiding a three-game sweep.
After two successful seasons, Cabral was a 2005 preseason All-WAC selection going into his junior year, a season that was cut short because of an injury.
Arm trouble limited Cabral's performance the following year and he was faced with the decision of returning to the team for the 2007 season.
"A lot of the young guys wanted me to stay," Cabral said. "I felt I could be the captain and help a lot of guys out. I didn't want to play two years and then crap out. I wanted to leave the program in good standing."
Head coach Sam Piraro spoke very highly of his fifth-year pitcher and said Cabral is the kind of player that a coach values.
"Corey is probably one of the finest leaders we have had in our program in any sport at San Jose State, not just baseball," Piraro said. "He's just one of those guys during the course of a career a you hope you get the opportunity to coach. It was a real privilege to have been associated with him."
Cabral said he will focus on finding a management position during the summer and after he establishes himself and his career, he plans on returning to SJSU to earn his masters in business administration.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Mrs. R. A. Michelson
posted 5/18/07 @ 11:13 PM EST
What a wonderful tribute to Corey Cabral for all his sincere dedication to
the Spartans during his 5 years at San Jose. What a terrible disappointment
it must have been to have an injury that would deter his dream. (Continued…)
Post a Comment