Frankfort’s Bodie Bishop will be heading to the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, next month to compete for a spot on the USA’s 16-under age group national team.
The 15-year-old Bishop pitches and can play several other positions. He is one of the youngest players on for the Hampden Quirk Motor City Riverdogs Post 213 Senior American Legion baseball team and also plays for the Maine Sting travel team.
Bishop, who is homeschooled, played for Hampden Academy this past spring and was 4-0 as a sophomore pitcher, including a 6-0 win over eventual Class A North champ Edward Little of Auburn. He also had a perfect game over 5 ⅔ innings in a 2-1 win over Hermon.
Bishop entered the USA National Team Identification Series by attending a tryout in Massachusetts in March and was chosen to attend a regional event in Pennsylvania last month.
His performance in Pennsylvania secured a spot for him on the USA Baseball National Identification Series’ Northeast Team.
Bishop said he won’t be nervous at the camp in North Carolina on Aug. 9-13.
“I really look at it as an opportunity to see how I match up with other guys my age,” he said. “I’m going to [embrace] the moment and enjoy it.”
Bishop is 3-1 this summer for the Riverdogs and has also contributed offensively as he did for Hampden Academy.
“He throws strikes. He worked hard in the offseason to develop his core and legs and his fastball has really improved,” said Jon Perry, who is the head coach of Hampden Academy and the Riverdogs.
Perry fully expects Bishop’s arm to get stronger and his secondary pitches to continue to get better and be more consistent. Bishop throws a change-up in addition to his curve and fastball.
“He loves baseball and he is very coachable. He is like a sponge. He soaks everything up,” Perry said. “He works really hard.”
Bishop works out in his home and a local gym in addition to his on-field baseball regimen. He has been “pleasantly surprised” by his success this year.
“But I just want to keep getting better. I want to get one percent better every day,” he said.
The son of Scott and Melanie Bishop, who moved to Frankfort when he was 11, Bodie Bishop said he has benefited significantly from having talented teammates and top-notch coaches.
Perry said when Bishop isn’t pitching, he can play third base, shortstop, second base and the outfield.
“He’s very versatile,” said Perry.
“I don’t care where I play,” Bishop said. “I just want to play.”