Austin Calaman of Dallastown was voted YAIAA Division I baseball player of the year by league coaches. (DAILY RECORD / SUNDAY NEWS -- FILE)
York, PA - The first sign that Austin Calaman's senior baseball season at Dallastown might be special actually occurred nearly a year earlier.

The previous summer, Calaman chose to play with York Township of the Susquehanna League. He hit north of .400 and was named the league's outstanding young player.

Calaman carried that momentum over to the spring. The Wildcats senior pitcher and infielder led his team to a YAIAA Division I championship. After the season, he was named the Division I player of the year.

We caught up recently with Calaman, who will play at York College next season.

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I understand you'll be playing at York College next year? What made you decide to go there?

I visited Rider. I went down to Mary Washington. I decided on York basically because of (Spartans head coach Mike Scappa). He was just one of those guys you could talk to -- not just baseball -- and the facilities there blew everybody else's away.

Why baseball?

I also played soccer and basketball as a kid growing up. But I kind of knew I would excel in one of those sports. I just had a big growth spurt in baseball.

Do you have any superstitions on game day?

I have to wear my black, Under Armour three-quarter-sleeve shirt (underneath his jersey).

I would imagine that gets pretty hot during the summer?

Yeah. No matter what

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the weather was, I wore it. We played a game at Spring Grove early this season, it was sleeting and snowing. Later, we played Spring Grove and it was 90 degrees. I still had it on.

What was your favorite moment of the season?

The Spring Grove game. The second one. It was the one where we clinched the (YAIAA Division I title).

It was probably one of the greatest moments of my high school season. It kind of capped everything off. I played for York Township last summer and I won (the Susquehanna League's young player of the year). To have a division title the same year and the player of the year kind of caps everything off.

If your sport wasn't offered, what sport would you play?

That's a tough one. I'd probably go for basketball.

What sport are you the absolute worst at?

Probably golf. I'll go to the driving range, and I can't hit it at all.

Who is your favorite athlete?

Albert Pujols. He's kind of my idol. I did a biography on him (in school). I learned about his life and where he came from.

What is your favorite activity off the field?

Fishing.

What is one thing about you that would surprise people?

I'm faster than what I look. I'm 200 pounds, so I guess you can say I get it moving once I get started.

What is your favorite food?

Macaroni and cheese.

Favorite TV show? Movie?

TV show, probably Eastbound and Down. And for movie, 21 Jump Street.

Name one place you'd love to go during your lifetime.

Omaha, Neb. For the College World Series.

What's the best piece of advice or tip you've ever gotten?

I got it this year from (York Township teammate and former Major League pitcher) Mark Hendrickson. He sat me down after a bad game and told me you have to go pitch-by-pitch. You can't look ahead and you can't look back.

If you could have dinner with any three people -- dead or alive -- who would it be?

Albert Pujols, Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth.

@johnsclayton; 771-2045