NHS baseball star Kraft signs with Coppin State

Photo: Jack Kraft, seated middle, is surrounded by his teammates during his signing.

Nutley High School senior Jack Kraft signed a National Letter of Intent with Coppin State in Baltimore, Md. on a baseball scholarship on Tuesday Nov. 15.
Kraft signed his Letter of Intent at the Nutley East Little League  Club, joined by his family, friends and teammates.
The following is Kraft’s speech at the signing:
“I wanted to say thank you to everyone for coming tonight. I am very honored that you are here to share in this exciting time with me because I wouldn’t have made it here without your support and guidance. And most of all thank you to God for blessing me with such an amazing opportunity. I have prepared a short statement because I’m nervous and I didn’t want to forget anything.
We’re here at Nutley East Little League because this place has been a second home to me for as long as I can remember. It was here where I learned how to play the game of baseball and it’s here where I learned how to be a part of a team. I made friends here that I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise and I’m grateful that I have so many great times to look back on. This is where I first had the dream of playing Division 1 baseball in college so I thought it was appropriate that this would be where I signed my National Letter of Intent.
I’ve asked a few people to be here next to me when I signed because they played such a big role in me getting to this place. Of course my parents are here because they were the ones that saw me through every up and down that I had. My brothers Jesse and Jeremy, who made playing this game such a fun part of my life, my sister, Jensen, who always cheered louder that anyone else, my teammates who I learned so much from, and my girlfriend Katie, who I am so happy is a part of my life.
But these guys here are the ones that got me actually sitting at this table tonight. Frank Rendini, my instructor, who for as long as I can remember, kept me positive and taught me every detail of how to be the best I can be. And he taught me over and over, week after week, with the patience of a saint. Richie Kunz, my old coach and friend, who kept on me until I joined the beRecruited website that got me incredible exposure to college coaches, Danny Liaci, my coach now, who happily gave his time to speak with all the college coaches that wanted to learn more about me, and most of all…my Dad, who took me down to the field every time I asked and had nothing but encouraging words for me. It was from his lessons that I learned that it’s not how you start out but how you end up that’s important.
I’ve also learned a lot during this recruiting process, but there’s one important thing that I want to share and that’s this: There is a spot for every high school baseball player who wants to be on a baseball team in college. It’s just up to you to find that spot. It takes a lot of time and effort but if it’s really something you want then stay at it. And keep in mind that where you want to go to college might not necessarily have a team that wants you. So be open to all different opportunities. I’m going to Coppin State University and before all this, all I knew about them is that they had a very good basketball team. But after I met Coach Reed and Coach Beckman and their team, I was so impressed with what they are working to accomplish that I knew that day that I was going to be a Coppin Eagle. So my advice is to start your college search early. Do it well before your senior year. That’s the one thing that I wish I knew about all of this, so that’s why I’m sharing it with you. So thanks again for being here and now I want to sign.”