By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com
DUBLIN (March 6, 2018) — Dublin senior shortstop and multi-sport athlete Tim Teten cemented his college plans Tuesday morning, signing a commitment letter with Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Teten will compete for the nationally-respected baseball program at Wesleyan, which was 18-2 overall and ranked No. 5 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
But for Teten, the big decision was based on much more than just baseball.
“They have everything I was looking for in three areas – athletically, academically and the third area is spiritually,” Teten explained after a brief ceremony that included his family, coaches administrators and, of course, a pride of Lion teammates and friends. “I think it’s a place where I can grow spiritually and play a high level of baseball.”
For Teten, Wesleyan offers the chance to compete on a national level, perhaps even a national championship.He’s also open to the idea of moving up a the college ladder if the right opportunity were to come along.
Tetan said he is open to the possibility of transferring, especially if his numbers were to draw attention of big (NCAA) programs.
At Dublin Teten is a returning a Conference 3A all-state pic. He was a first-team all-district and third-team all-state selection as a junior last spring, batting .490 with seven doubles and three triples. Possessing a great eye at the plate and the quickness to beat out fielder’s choices and reach on errors, Teten turned in an eye-popping .780 on-base percentage.
Teten understands .490 is an average difficult to match, even with another year’s experience. So far Dublin has just been trying to get the weather and ensuing field conditions to match up with their game and practice schedules.
“We’ve had a slow start because of the weather,,” he said. “We’ve literally had more games than we have practices.”
That would be okay with many high school kids. But Teten understands and appreciates the necessity of hard work on the practice field.
“We just need to work hard, that’s all you can do. You always get better if you put in the hard work and dedication,” he said.
He’s seen that first hand in Dublin, where he has been a part of 180-degree turns by both the baseball and boys basketball programs.
Kellen Cervetto has led Dublin from cellar dweller in two seasons.
“Coach Cervetto is just awesome, and to be a part of his program the way it’s rising up has been a great experience,” said Teten. “I know if we keep working hard for him that great things will happen for us.”
Teten said the Lions were 0-18 on the diamond his freshman season, then Cervetto took over and led them immediately to a level of success the program had never previously experienced.
“We went from not winning a game my first year to winning bi-district the next year, and we were back in bi-district again (in 2017).”
Teten also played for head coach Will Parker and the back-to-back district champion Lion basketball teams of the past two years, seeing Dubin go from worst to first between 2015-16 and 2016-17, then retaining their perch above the rest of District 6-3A in 2017-18.
The son of Rodney and Tammy Teten doesn’t have any groundbreaking secrets to pass on to upcoming Lions guaranteeing them a future in college baseball. To earn the same opportunity Tim is taking advantage of, those coming behind him should simply follow his example.
“It’s just hard work and dedication, that’s all you can do,” he said. “Dedicate time every day to make yourself better and work hard at it.”
That’s the message he plans to share with his teams in the future, when he follows the footsteps of guys like Cervetto, Parker and other Lion coaches into their profession.
It’s why he plans to major in sports management, and why he thinks college athletics is a choice that can benefit him in the future.
“I want to be a coach someday, and hopefully I can be as good as my coaches have been for me.”
COMING UP FOR THE LIONS:
Dublin has three games against two foes in a two-day span this weekend. The Lions visit Cisco for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, and make the short trek to De Leon to face the Bearcats at 10 a.m. Saturday.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN:
A private evangelical protestant-affiliated liberal arts institution in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, OWU says on its university home page online that it “models a way of thought, a way of life, and a way of faith,” centered around four pillars – Christ, scripture, truth and wisdom. Originally founded in 1959 as Bartlesville Wesleyan College, the name officially became Oklahoma Wesleyan College in August of 2001.
ABOUT EAGLES BASEBALL:
One of three Oklahoma schools listed in the top 10 of the NAIA Coaches Poll this week, the Eagles improved to 18-2 earlier this week by drubbing Roosevelt (Ill.) 19-0 and 8-1 in a non-conference. They resume Kansas College Athletic Conference competition with a three-game home series Friday and Saturday against the University of Saint Mary.
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