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Trivia Question: Which two teams played in the first-ever college baseball game?
Here's a hint. It took place two years before the U.S. Civil War – in 1859 – and about as far from California as you can get.
For the record, Saint Francis senior Landon Kim required no clues. He knew immediately that Amherst played Williams College in that first game.
Kim, one of the best pitchers in the West Catholic Athletic League, is not only a student of the game. He's a student. And he'll be reporting to Williamstown, Massachusetts in August to continue his academic career – and to start a new baseball life – at Williams.
Kim's brother Tristan, also a pitcher, is finishing his junior year at Amherst, meaning the Kim brothers will be at ground zero of college baseball's longest-standing rivalries.
"Hopefully, we can pitch against each other next year," Landon said. “I can’t wait for those games next year. "It would be fun to pitch against him. We’ve never faced off."
Landon Kim has been one of the Peninsula's top pitchers this year, but he enters next week's CCS tournament in the throes of a head-scratching personal three-game losing streak.
Lancers coach Erik Wagle says it can all be fixed with a minor correction and that his Kim's velocity – in the high 80s – hasn't dropped a bit from the early start of the season.
That means there's a good chance for Saint Francis (19-9) to make a playoff run, which would be a fine way for Kim to close out his high school career. In August, a new chapter will be penned.
Baseball aside, Kim will major in biology with the intention of possibly becoming a medical doctor. Williams College, located on Massachusetts's northwest border – a stone's throw from both upstate New York and New Hampshire – will offer a climatic change to California.
"There’s going to be an adjustment period to the cold, and I am not fully prepared for it," he said. "But I am sure I’ll get the hang of it."
Kim will play in the highly competitive New England Small College Athletic Conference, an NCAA-Division III league.
Kim has already connected with his recruiting class online and said, “they all seem like great guys, and I am super excited about playing with them and our future years together."
He'll also play against St. Ignatius Prep senior Beau Schaffer, who has committed to Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
“I am aware that Beau will be (playing) at Colby," Kim said. "Beau is a talented pitcher and hitter, and I always look forward to our matchups."
-- Mike Sangimino
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