Wahconah's Rabuse Officially Commits to Play Baseball at Northeastern

DALTON, Mass. -- The day a high school student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent is a major milestone in his or her athletic career.

 

For Wahconah senior James Rabuse, it was a stop on what he always has hoped will be a very long road.

 

"I remember when James came in, he was 11," Rip City Academy owner Alex Carusotto said on Wednesday. "We always ask the kids, 'What's your goal? What do you want to do with all this?' He said, 'hof.'

 

"I didn't know what that meant. He goes, 'Hall of Fame.' I was like, well, that's the first time I've heard that answer."

 

Carusotto spoke just before Rabuse signed his NLOI to attend and play baseball at Northeastern University. And while Cooperstown is a goal for another day, at least Rabuse knows he will be playing for Huskies' coach Mike Glavine, a former Major Leaguer and brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine.

 

It is no accident that Rabuse finds himeself on the cusp of a Division I collegiate career. It's part of a plan that Carusotto helped him map out when Rabuse was still a Little Leaguer.

 

"We always tell [players], 'Listen, if you want to play college baseball, you're talking five days a week, six days a week," Carusotto said. "[To reach the Hall of Fame], it's your whole life. As you guys know -- all his friends, his family -- he's pretty much made this his entire life."

 

Maybe not 24/7, his high school coach was quick to point out.

 

"We all know James has devoted himself to himself to becoming a truly exceptional baseball player, but there is more to it than just that," said Steve Messina, who coached Wahconah for three seasons before stepping down this summer.

 

"In order to be able to go to an elite academic institution like Northeastern, you have to be able to excel in the classroom. ... James has done that in the classroom. He's been able to handle both the academics and the athletic portion of this with great composure and skill."

 

He also has shown composure on the baseball diamond. In his sophomore and junior seasons combined, Rabuse has an ERA just north of 2.00 with 164 strikeouts in 78 innings on the mound. He also leads Wahconah with 11 home runs at the plate in that time, but he will be focusing on pitching at Northeastern.

 

"I'd like to thank my coaches," Rabuse said before inking his letter. "You guys have been with me every step of the way and helping me be the baseball player and person I am today."

 

Rabuse also thanked his friends and family for their support.

 

"It's really special," he said of signing the letter in Wahconah's gym with many of his teammates looking on. "I grew up with these guys, and they've known I've been obsessed with baseball for a long time. I think it's really nice for them to see me take my first step into the college realm."

 

It is a step Rabuse has known he would take for some time. He gave an early commitment to Northeastern last winter, before his junior season in high school. He said Wednesday's ceremony still means something.

 

"Signing this is kind of like it's the first chapter in a book," he said.

 

And the prologue that Carusotto talked about?

 

"I remember telling them that," Rabuse said. "It's a little cocky now thinking back on it, but I think it's good to set your goals high."