Good News Berlin: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

What do you want to be when you grow up? Well yesterday a good number of fifth graders at Mary E. Griswold Elementary School may have answered "a professional baseball player," especially after meeting Berlin's own Matt Carasiti.

Earlier this year, Carasiti was drafted by the Colorado Rockies after an impressive career at St. John's University. The right-handed starter talked to around 100 students about growing up in Berlin and playing sports from an early age straight through college.

Carasiti was drafted right out of high school by the Texas Rangers, but after discussing his options with his family, decided to go to college instead. The message was clear - education is important.

Carasiti spent this season in Colorado playing for the Rockies affiliate Grand Junction Rockies. When asked what his goals are over the next couple of years, Carasiti said he plans to finish college and hopes to be playing in majors before too long.

The inquisitive fifth-graders asked Carasiti about everything from how to throw a good change-up to what he does in his free time. They seemed equally impressed with his average pitch speed of 95 mph as they were with his favorite video games (most of which they play too).

Carasiti graciously posed for pictures with each of the five classes and generously shared his advice, his experiences and, most importantly, his time with this attentive group.

Afterwards he admitted to being a little nervous before his first public speaking appearance to which one young fan replied, "you better get used to it because you'll be doing press conferences all the time when you're in the Majors." And we'll be watching.