DELMAR, NY (NEWS10) -- Each week this summer, NEWS10 Sports is featuring one of the Capital Region's best student athletes who just graduated on our segment, "What's Next?". We're going to dive into both what lies ahead, while looking back on their storied careers. Up this week? Bethlehem's Scott Sleurs.
"We all see the highlights on the news of the hits and thrown out runners and stuff, but what you don't see is what they do outside of baseball," said Bethlehem baseball coach Matt Rehbit.
Scott Sleurs is a force to be reckoned with both on and off the field. On the diamond, Sleurs helped lead the Eagles to the first state title in the history of the baseball program. "I mean, it was amazing," said Sleurs. "To go out winners, it's just great. It's a great feeling. Just to know you haven't lost your last game."
Sleurs had his fingerprints all over Bethlehem's run, both at the plate and behind it as the team's catcher. "Defensively, he blocks everything," says Rehbit. "We still say, a big moment in the state championship game was when he threw out somebody from his knees. He calls a wonderful game. The pitchers love him. Offensively, we had seven games in the postseason. I think he got a hit in all seven games. Huge hits, too. He just came up big time and time again."
As impactful as Sleurs was on the field, he's contributed as much, if not more, in his community, starting with his role as a volunteer fireman with the Elsmere Fire Department. "My whole family are firemen," said Sleurs. "I mean my dad, my brother and my uncles, all of that. The whole family's involved."
"He acts like a firefighter," said Rehbit. "Nothing phases him, really. I mean, if you run into a burning building, you can handle your pitching staff."
It doesn't end there for Sleurs. He also, alongside some of his Bethlehem teammates, volunteered with the Challenger Little League Program, a baseball program designed to meet the needs of children with physical or mental disabilities. The Eagles were even there for the kids on the same day as their regional championship win over West Genesee. "Shortly after we started, here comes three quarters of the Bethlehem baseball team in uniform," said Challenger co-founder Michael Mitchell. "It just says a lot about their character and who they are as individuals and puts perspective in a lot of things."
"Challenger is an opportunity to have kids with disabilities play Little League baseball and to see Scott and the others embrace the role as mentors and people that are looked up to and idolized, and then to go win the state championship and come back and highlight them. Some of our Challenger players, they looked at them like they were the New York Yankees," Mitchell continued. "It was awesome. It was fantastic. Winning the state championship for these kids, it couldn't happen to a better group of guys."
"They had a lot of fun," said Sleurs. "You can see it. They're always smiling, and that's just a great feeling for you as well, because everyone's out there smiling."
It's feelings like that that have pushed Sleurs to continue to give back. "It makes you feel good," said Sleurs. "It helps you and it makes you feel like you want to be a better person."
Sleurs will look to impact a new community this fall, committing to continue his baseball career at St. John Fisher. There were a few components that factored into his decision. "I mean, the campus, mostly campus," said Sleurs. "The food is great. I love the coach. The coach is a great guy."
One thing's for sure, St. John Fisher is getting a great player and an even better person who has left a lasting mark on his community and those that have gotten to know him.
"High character," said Mitchell. "Role model. You know, the kids that around the Tri-Village Little League program look up to him, and I think that's something that he takes pride in. Scott has set the bar high."
"Great kid," said Rehbit. "That's right off the bat. Not even baseball. Just a great kid. I mean, if you have great kids, you can do a lot. When it comes to hard working, when it comes to being a great teammate, when it comes to being supportive and helpful and caring and yada, yada, yada, he's that kid. A lot of these schools, his included, they got a steal. Honestly, they don't realize what type of kid they got. I mean, he is just character through and through."
