For Teft Hill, sophomore business administration major, the life-changing aspect of baseball is not the game itself but rather his teammates.
Four months after Hill was born in Colorado, he was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer. After going through an eight-hour surgery and more than a year of chemotherapy, Hill became cancer free.
“I lived a healthy life after that,” said Hill.
Hill grew up playing soccer and skiing in the mountains of Colorado until he moved to Florida at the age of 12.
“When we moved down here, I started playing baseball, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” said Hill.
Not only was he more passionate about baseball but he also realized that he was more talented in baseball than soccer.
Hill played baseball for four years and golf for two at Cypress Lake High School. His batting average was over .375 in his sophomore, junior and senior years, with 54 stolen bases.
He went on to attend Georgia Southern where he was red-shirted for the baseball team. Although he didn’t play during the games, the coach allowed him to travel with the team when they had games. He was known for his energy and enthusiasm that pumped up the whole team.
“I remember when we went to Appalachian State, and it was snowing; everyone was feeling down, and I got the team fired up,” said Hill. “I think that if I wasn’t there, they wouldn’t have won that game.”
After two years of playing for the sharks’ baseball team, Hill was honored as a cancer survivor by getting the first pitch of the home game against Florida Tech on April 10.
“I just wanted to tell guys out there to never let anything stop you, and just keep pursuing life, keep going forward, and never look back,” said Hill.
I got the chance to sit down with Hill and ask him some questions.
What do you like about baseball?
“I like everything about the game, from the guys I get to hang out with to the way the game is played.”
Is anyone in your family into sports?
“My dad played football when he was in college. He played for a small Division III school in Indiana, and they won the championship a couple of times.”
Have you had a coach who influenced you?
“My high school coach influenced me a lot. He knew my background and knew my story. He sat down with me when all the scouts were trying to recruit me to college and told me to make the right decision and go wherever I thought I’d be happy.”
Who’s the most influential person in your life?
“My dad because he’s a big leader in my eyes. He is a dedicated person, and he knows how to treat others fairly. He just taught me a lot.”
What has been your most memorable moment playing baseball?
“I’d have to say when I moved down here and became part of a little league team, and we made it to the championships. Even though we lost, it’s still memorable going to the championship at that age.”
Will you continue to play baseball after college?
“I definitely will. I have two more years of eligibility to play, and I plan on playing after that and seeing where it takes me.”
What’s your ideal career?
“Hopefully, I’ll have my own company one day and expand it internationally and travel a lot.”
Do you have any rituals before you get on the field?
“My cancer, even though I was too young to remember all of it, changed the way I live my life. The only ritual I have is to enjoy life as it is, have fun and give it the best I can.”
How did baseball change your life?
“It kept me active and out of trouble.”
How do you describe yourself as an athlete?
“I’m wild, crazy and energetic. I’m a positive guy; I never think about the negatives.”
How do you celebrate winning?
“After we look up at the scoreboard and see that we won, we have to remember that there’s another game the next day and that we have to do just as good. We do get a little wild in the locker rooms after the game, but we get right back to work, so we don’t get over-satisfied.”
How do you deal with losing?
“I hate losing, but it gives us time to think about it. It doesn’t impact us that much because we play four to five games a week; it’s not like football where you play one game a week, and you have to think about that loss. You can’t get down on yourself too much.”
What do you feel motivates you the most?
“Just living life motivates me. Every day is a privilege. I motivate myself to keep going because most people don’t realize that they’re fortunate enough just to be able to live their lives. We always have to remember that there are people out there who are less fortunate.”
What do like to do when you’re not in school or on the baseball field?
“I like to go to the beach, fish a lot and hang out with my friends and family. If I’m in the mountains, I go hunting. I also like spearfishing. I just like being outdoors; I hate videogames and TV.”
If a movie were to be made about your life, who would you want to play your role?
“I don’t think anyone would be able to play it, but I would probably play my own role, or it would have to be one of my buddies who know me well.”
Follow the sports editor on Twitter @RNDranda1
Photo printed with permission from M. CALLAHAN
