BY: DONALD HUNT
PHILADELPHIA - Jared Sprague-Lott has really taken his baseball skills to the next level. Sprague-Lott has developed into one of the A-10 Conference’s best players. The former Springside Chestnut Hill Academy standout put together an impressive season at the University of Richmond earning All-A-10 second-team honors for his play at second base.
“It’s been a fun year,” Sprague-Lott said. “It’s a great level of competition. You face great arms and pitching staffs. It’s been a pleasure being down here in Richmond [Virginia] with the coaching staff that we have here and the players around. It’s been nothing but fun in the A-10 and high-level competition.”
Sprague-Lott, a 6-1, 190-pound junior, batted .314 this season. He completed the season ranked among the top 10 in three key categories in the conference such as runs scored (4th, 60), home runs (4th, 13), and walks (3rd, 44). He gained a lot of experience playing different positions in the infield. The playing time has served him well.
University of Richmond second baseman Jared Sprague-Lott. ( Photo/ University of Richmond Athletics)
Former Springside Chestnut Hill Academy standout Jared Sprague-Lott is earning A-10 honors during his time at Richmond. (Photo/ University of Richmond Athletics)
“I’ve been all around the infield,” Sprague-Lott said. “I started at shortstop my first two years. Then, I went to third and ended up at second. I’m just trying to maximize what we had in our infield from a versatility standpoint. I feel like I learned how to play all the positions and all different angles of the field. I feel liked I picked up on all of them. My coaching staff has done a great job preparing me for the games. It’s been great.”
Sprague-Lott had plenty of success on the diamond prior to playing for Richmond. He helped Springside Chestnut Hill Academy win the Inter-Ac League championship his junior year.
He picked up a great deal of knowledge and exposure playing for the Anderson Monarchs youth baseball team at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center, near 17th and Christian Streets. He played for Steve Bandura who is the founder and coach of the team.
“I was a shortstop for the Monarchs,” Sprague-Lott said. “That’s been everything to be honest. I joined a little late. I joined at age 10. But I remember when I wasn’t on the team early on. I had a buddy in school with his [Anderson] Monarchs gear on. That joy of the game he had on his face. I would drive by Marian Anderson [Recreation Center] all the time because I live in the neighborhood. I would always see Coach Steve [Bandura] working on the perfect field and working hard to give his players a chance to enjoy the game every day. When I finally had an opportunity to join, it just changed everything in my life.”
Sprague-Lott also played for the Taney Little League that played in the 2014 Little League World Series that had star pitcher Mo’ne Davis. He has used all these opportunities to shape his baseball career.
Richmond’s baseball season has concluded, but Sprague-Lott said he looks forward to playing baseball over the summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League in Massachusetts. He will be heading into summer league play following a great season at Richmond.
