Atascadero News File Photo - Former Atascadero High School third baseman Bryce Cherry gets high-fives from teammates after a home run during a past game. Cherry will head to Cuesta College next year to play baseball rather than Point Loma Nazarene.

Rather than head to Point Loma Nazarene to play baseball next year, former Atascadero High School third baseman Bryce Cherry is going to stay a little closer to home, playing for coach Bob Miller at Cuesta College.

“I had a little bit of a change in heart, and I think with the baseball program they have at Cuesta and being able to stay local, it was just something I needed to do,” Cherry said.

Several things went into the decision, one of which was cost.

“Financially, even with my scholarship it was going to cost me a decent amount of money,” Cherry said. “Cuesta’s a lot cheaper and I can stay local and live with my parents.”

Another big factor in the decision was his future prospects in college or maybe professional baseball.

“I was talking to some local scouts and coaches in the area and they felt if I stayed a year or two at Cuesta and developed a little bit more, I’d be [an NCAA Division I] guy,” Cherry said. “They liked my potential at a junior college and after a year or two I’d be draft-eligible, and if not I could move on to a four-year Division I-type school.”

For the complete article see the 07-16-2010 issue.

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