TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A skateboarding accident took Godby senior Peyton Scharinger out a couple of weeks into this baseball season. But now that he's back? Peyton's enjoying every chance he gets out on the diamond.
"I'm trying to take it as slow as I can. I know once it's gone it's gone," he said. "I miss playing football, haven't played since my sophomore year, so this is all I have left. I'm trying to enjoy it the most I can."
The Cougars are enjoying having Peyton back on the field, not just at the plate, but for his golden glove in the outfield.
"Last year in the outfield, he had a 1000% fielding percentage," said head coach Jayson Strickland. "A lot of times that doesn't show with outfielders, because they don't get credit for a throw that hits the cutoff man. Just to have a guy that everybody puts a premium on hitting. When you have a guy that's a defensive stand-out for you, that's a big deal."
Also a big deal? Peyton's grades. He boasts a 4.2 GPA, he's ranked tenth in his class, and he'll graduate from Godby with his AA in hand.
"It has it's ups and downs!" laughed Peyton. "At the same time, it is more strenuous work and it is college level so I have to live up to that part."
"He's taken 12+ hours every semester as a junior and senior," said coach Strickland. "He's taken summer classes. He's done that, 150+ community service hours. To maintain all that is a really, really nice thing."
Peyton's maintaining - and excelling, and after an early first round exit in last year's play-offs, he's looking to finish his final season on a high note.
"Our team goal is to make it past the first round of the playoffs," said Peyton. "Last year we lost 2-1 and it was a heart breaker. I'm just trying to enjoy every moment we have left of it."
Not a bad goal to have.
