For senior utilityman Chris Selden, everything revolves around baseball-when he sleeps, when he wakes up, when he works out and everything in between.
"I figured out once you get to college, you don't play baseball unless you really do love it-especially at this level," Selden said.
Selden is preparing for what will be his final season as a Pirate. During his college career, Selden said, he has learned a lot about the structure and time management that goes with the life of a student-athlete.
"You do find time for everything," Selden said. "Whenever you think you're missing out on something-you're really not."
A native of Allenhurst, N.J., Selden made his first appearance for the Hall in 2011, playing in five games and tallying his first RBI along the way. He was named a Big East Academic All-Star that season.
Selden saw action in 21 and 51 games in his sophomore and junior years, respectively.
Last season as part of his junior-year campaign, Selden batted a career-high .320 while stealing a career-high 17 bases. His 17 steals was good for third-highest on the team. He was also third-highest on the team in batting percentage. His 33 rbi were a career high.
Selden's solid junior campaign earned him a spot on the All-NJCBA Second team.
Selden said he looks to play an important role on the team as one of only four seniors.
"It kind of forces you to step up and maybe speak up about certain things-be more authoritative in taking the reins," Selden said. "When you're working hard and you're getting results toward specific goals, it's rewarding."
Selden knows a thing or two about that reward of winning as a member of the 2011 Big East Conference Championship team.
"It was kind of a whirlwind," Selden said of the experience. "For a season that really felt like it was going the wrong direction, it turned the team for the next two to three years."
A return to the Big East championship is something Selden said he is eager to get back to.
"I think there's no question in my mind, we can get back to it," Selden said. "We definitely have the potential."
Selden said he will work hard to try and to drafted at this June's MLB Draft.
"There's no question in my mind, if I get drafted, I'll definitely go and try and further my career," he said. "Baseball is something I love."
If this is his final season at bat, Selden, a mathematics major, has some idea of what life without baseball could be like.
"If I can't further my career, I guess I'd say I'd want to go into something in finance," Selden said.
This winter he took the actuarial exam and is awaiting the results.
With the loss of outfielders Scott Kalamar and Zack Granite, Seton Hall may look to Selden to play in the outfield this season.
Selden said he has high expectations for his final season with the Pirates.
"We need to stay consistent, for the fact that if we want that regional bid," he said. "We need to win; we can't have any off days."
Neal can be reached at neal.mchale@student.shu.edu.
