Hesson even throws off a mound year-round in his backyard to his father Brandon, a former baseball player. And the time he spent at college camps over the past two summers has been equally valuable to his development. It was Hesson’s dream to play college baseball ever since middle school. So, the easiest way to get noticed and perhaps get offers is to impress college coaches at camps.
Photography by Steve Buchanan
Hesson, a dominating left-handed pitcher, participated at camps at George Mason, Coppin State, Salisbury, and McDaniel in 2022. This past summer, he attended more camps at Towson University, Mount St. Mary’s, Salisbury again, and Marymount. TOWNE ATHLETE
Daniel Hesson
Colonel Richardson High School Baseball
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By Tom Worgo
olonel Richardson High senior Daniel Hesson plays baseball nonstop. After the high school season ends, Hesson competes for the Salisbury-based East Coast Titans—an elite club team—in the summer and fall. Weightlifting with Titans’ teammates and baseball practices indoors are consistent in the offseason.
22 What’s Up? Eastern Shore | November 2023 | whatsupmag.com
The hard work, time, and travel paid off for the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Hesson. Marymount University in Northern Virginia offered him a spot on its team and Hesson expects more offers to come. He’d like to play Division I baseball, but Division II or Division III would suit him just fine. “It’s all about being seen by the colleges,” says Hesson, who carries a 4.0 gradepoint average and will have taken eight advanced placement classes by the time he graduates. “Colleges can’t offer guys they haven’t seen a lot of. They
want to see benchmarks out of you like the velocity of your pitches.” The camps make Hesson, a Cambridge resident, a better player by sharpening his skills. He refined some of his pitching mechanics. “I picked up a lot of experience and tips from college coaches that I wouldn’t be able to get from other coaches,” says Hesson, who expects to commit to a college this winter. “I come away as a better pitcher.” Hesson has been clocked as high as 84 miles per hour. Colonel Richardson Baseball Coach Ryan Blanchfield feels Hesson could add a few more miles per hour to his impressive four-pitch repertoire. That would even make him more attractive to colleges. “If he works hard this winter, he could get bigger, stronger, and throw harder,” Blanchfield explains. Hesson worked as Colonel Richardson’s ace pitcher the past two seasons, helping the Colonels to the Class 1A state championship games both years. He spent his freshman year on the junior varsity squad, and part of his sophomore season on the same team before being called up to the varsity team early in the season. He boasts an 8-1 record in his first two years on varsity.