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Through his University of North Carolina-situated communications studies, Mike “Zoom” Zolk is acquiring added appreciation for interpersonal relationships.
Though his instructors have proven instrumental, the 19-year-old alumnus of Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., last month received thousands of unforgettable pointers from strangers, as his Tar Heels ventured to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series.
“We enjoyed an amazing atmosphere and felt so much support from our fans who made the trip and especially the people of Omaha,” the junior-to-be said Sunday from North Carolina, where he is taking three summer classes. “Because of the excitement, I compare our time there to what goes on in Philly at the Mummers Parade, only our time lasted longer and lacked as many fancy costumes.”
The Northeast Philly native and his peers had earned an automatic bid to the Cornhusker State-based competition as the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season champions. Entering as the nation’s top-ranked diamond dwellers, they initially emerged from the double-elimination regionals and best-of-three super regionals, both in their home state, by posting a 5-2 mark. For his efforts in the first set of tests, which included June 3’s three-hit, four-RBI performance in a 13-12 victory over Florida Atlantic, Zolk received an All-Regional selection.
“For me, the year was about learning to handle pressure better, adjust to a leadership role and take advantage of my chances,” the second baseman, who after tiring toward his freshman year’s conclusion devoted himself to more intense preparation, said of the campaign, which saw him make 66 starts for the 59-12 club and improve his average 14 points to .269. “I really wanted to be at my best in the postseason, and we almost got it done, but no matter what, the whole experience made it a privilege to play on this team.”
By downing South Carolina, last year’s national runner-up, two games to one in the super regionals, the Tar Heels punched their institution’s 10th ticket to Nebraska’s largest city and sixth in the last eight years. They lost their opener, 8-1, to conference foe North Carolina State June 16 yet staved off elimination two days later by doubling up Louisiana State 4-2. In June 20’s rematch against their conqueror, the Tar Heels blanked the Wolfpack 7-0, with Zolk collecting two hits and driving in as many runs. Needing to beat UCLA twice to seal their site’s third march to the finals, they fell 4-1 the next day, with their score coming off his ninth-inning, bases-loaded groundout.
“I think we looked past UCLA and went against our mentality of taking one day at a time,” Zolk said. “That’s a shame because we had an outstanding group of guys and coaches who gave us so much, including interest in who we are becoming, not just as ballplayers but as people, too.”
Knowing successes often follow setbacks, he anticipates a fantastic season for his bunch, including the incoming freshmen with whom he already has interacted. As this season’s athletes accumulated the most wins in school history and he has gained a greater sense of his duties, he knows only one event can top what he deemed the most amazing year of his life.
“We have the greatest fans at this school,” Zolk said of backers who also have successful basketball, lacrosse and soccer teams to laud. “I want to bring them a national championship.”
Zolk, who derives his nickname from a former soccer coach’s belief that he resembles a boy who utters “Zoom, Zoom” in a car commercial, selected his postsecondary site three years ago. It had courted him as soon as he began to excel for Northeast Catholic High School. Transferring to Neumann-Goretti in 2009, he became a vital piece of the Saints’ lineup, earning First-Team All-Catholic nods in his two seasons and capturing the Blue Division’s MVP award as a senior, a year that saw the East Passyunk Crossing-based ballplayers win the league championship.
“Just like at North Carolina, where I feel blessed, I really loved being around that team because we looked out for one another and had such ambition and drive,” Zolk said of his South Philly days, which he partially relived through receiving former teammates’ best wishes during his Nebraska sojourn. “I wish them well in their endeavors, too.”
This year’s Saints, with his father, Mike “Big Zoom” Zolk, serving as coach, could not add a third-consecutive league championship plaque to their school’s hallways yet added their third-straight city title with a win over Prep Charter, 1928 Point Breeze Ave. Following their Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association loss, the elder Zolk traveled to Nebraska, where his son experienced celebrity status. Expecting to work only on his hitting and fielding, the young man also needed to polish his penmanship.
“In a few years, I’ve gone from someone asking for autographs to being asked for them,” Zolk said of signing baseballs for eager children and adults. “We were around so many people who just love baseball and appreciated our play. We appreciated their enthusiasm, too.”
If Zolk keeps elevating his game, he could soon be applying his name to a professional contract. Major League teams selected six Tar Heels in last month’s draft, and though he never makes assumptions on his baseball future, he hopes he can show scouts he deserves their consideration as a possible contributor to their employers’ chances.
“I’m going to be excited to get back to the field,” Zolk, who is refraining from summer ball to concentrate on academics, said. “We have unfinished business.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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