At just 15 years old, Deshorn Lake has already done something never achieved by anyone else in the territory.
Out of 2,800 players, Lake was one of the final 36 chosen to go to Cal State Fullerton over the next week to participate in the Team USA Olympic 16U (16 and under) trials. If he’s one of the 18 players to make it onto the team, he will take part in the International Baseball Federation’s "AA" Youth (16U) World Championships in Taiwan.
"It was a big honor for me just to try out for the team — it’s something few kids get to do," Lake said recently, as he practiced with some of his teammates from the V.I. Future Stars Baseball Program. "I mean, only 36 kids out of thousands get to go to L.A., and it would really mean a lot to me to make the team. No one else from the Virgin Islands has ever been on it."
A pitcher attending Charlotte Amalie High School, Lake said watching his brother play baseball when he was younger inspired him to take up the game.
"My brother was so into baseball, and when he was practicing, I would go out onto the field," said Lake, who said he started pitching when he was 10. "My mom put me on the team he was on when I reached the age level."
With his repertoire now including a fastball, curve ball, a changeup and a slider, Lake hopes that will be enough to impress the coaches at trials.
"This could really help me get the exposure I need," Lake said. "People would know who I am from being on the team, and it would help me get to different tournaments and things. I just find it all unbelievable, because when you start out, you don’t ever think it will get this far."
Lake leaves for tryouts on Saturday, according to Future Stars founder Darren Canton.
"This is really a big achievement, I think, for the entire territory in terms of baseball," Canton said in a phone interview. "The Virgin Islands has a history of raw talent, but to make a cut like that, you have to be somewhat polished, so it’s definitely a good sign for the raw talent down here."
