Rarely has Duke shortstop Vaughn Schill been told he wasn't good enough. He was New Jersey's high school player of the year in 1996. He was drafted out of high school by the now-world champion Florida Marlins in the ninth round of the June amateur draft. He eclipsed virtually every freshman hitting record in Duke's annals last season en route to being named a first-team Freshman All-America by Collegiate Baseball.
Last year, however, after trying out for the U.S. National Team in the fall, Schill was not invited back for the re-trials in the summer.
"I didn't know what to think," Schill said. "I didn't know what they wanted for their summer team, but it really didn't matter too much because I already had a place to play."
Schill did not have to wait long for his chance at redemption. He participated in the 1998 USA Baseball National trials last weekend. Sixty-six of the top freshmen and sophomores in the country convened in Tucson, Ariz., for four days, hoping to impress the coaching staff enough to earn an invite to the summer trials.
Although he hit .388 last season, Schill's calling card is his play at shortstop. Despite committing 12 errors last season, Schill impressed many with his range and arm in the field. According to Schill, this weekend was no different.
"I fielded very well, especially [Sunday]," Schill said. "I made a lot of plays at shortstop. Overall, out of the 66 guys that were there, I definitely feel I was one of the best infielders there.
"I definitely got a better look at my primary position than last year, when I only played third base. They definitely saw that I could play that spot and play it as well or better than anyone else. I was happier about these trials than I [was] last year."
As Atlantic Coast Conference pitchers can attest, Schill is no slouch at the plate, either. After hovering well above .400 last season, Schill went into a late-season slump, yet still set the all-time Duke record for hits in one season. His hitting during the trials, though, may have been hampered by inactivity since fall baseball practice.
"I did well, considering the pitching that was there and everyone was [throwing in] the low- to mid-90s with good off-speed stuff," Schill said. "I played just as well as anyone else there."
Even if Schill is invited to the summer trials, which he will find out in the spring, he is unsure whether he can participate, as he has already committed to play in the Cape Cod League, the elite summer wooden-bat league for amateurs.
"It's not imperative that I make the team," Schill said. "If they invite me back and I decide to play for them, that's fine. If not, that's fine, too, because I still have a great place to play. It'll be fun either way."
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