Calgary’s Soren Graverson has been reaching high altitude when it comes to hitting college pitching.
With a bat in his hands this spring, Graverson has been operating at a .359 clip, with nine home runs and 38 runs batted in for the William Penn University Statesmen of Oskaloosa, Iowa. His slugging percentage is a lofty .772, which has helped William Penn to a 23-8 record so far.
Several factors have contributed to Graverson’s great start. First is just being in a college setting. He feels William Penn’s atmosphere embodies what he always hoped college/university would be like. He also cites the coaches and how they interact with the players as a contributing factor in his success. He also appreciates the trainers and how they deal with student-athletes. The great weight room and other college facilities, he says, are another key to excelling on the field.
Graverson’s goal for the rest of the year is to help William Penn obtain a berth in the NAIA World Series, which will be held in Lewiston, Idaho. In his view, he best helps his team by driving in runs and putting the ball in play as much as possible. He also aims to be the kind of teammate who helps pick up others when their day at the park isn’t their best. Off the field, he wants to keep his academic work at a high standard as he works toward a degree.
One of Graverson’s greatest thrills as a baseball player was being part of an Okotoks Dawgs team that won a prestigious Ohio showcase tournament. He also takes great satisfaction in being a member of Team Canada and playing at the T-12 tournament. His lowest point in the game was the time he spent rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery.
In the future, Graverson would like to keep playing baseball as long as he can. But, his most important goal is to be a good person to others, and an overall good citizen.
