Justin and Jordan
Henry were the most recent addition. Then we can go back to the Huisman (Jason,
Josh, and Justin) brothers that played under Coach Donnie Kessinger, and after
they left the Lyons (Nathan and Joel) twin brothers entered the program and played
for Coach Pat Harrison.. And if we want to go back even further, who could forget
the Pomeranz (Mike and Pat) brothers who played for Coach Jake Gibbs.
It
looks like you can add another pair of brothers, who happen to be twins, to the
Ole Miss squad next season as Michael (6' 5", 195) and Matthew (6' 5",
205) Snyder have verbally committed to play for the Rebels and will sign in November.
"The
summer before in the wooden bat league, Coach (Rob) Reinstetle came up to my dad
and asked about us, and he said he was our father. Every since then, we had the
feeling they loved us, and it was an instinct feeling that I was going to play
ball for Ole Miss and be a Rebel," added Mike Snyder.
There were a
few more selling points for Mike Snyder, who ranks as one of Baseball America's
Top 250 rising seniors in the country.
"We went down there in August
for an unofficial visit, and we had an absolute great time. Me and my brother
(Matt) love fishing, hunting, and the SEC atmosphere. We love the heat, not 40
degree weather. The fan support they get is crazy. Baseball is the number one
sport at Ole Miss. Who wouldn't love to play for a school like Ole Miss? It was
a no brainer for us.."
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| Matt
Snyder |
Matt Snyder, who is ranked as the #74 prospect
in the country by Baseball American chimed in.
"Me and my
brother (Mike), when we first started talking to Ole Miss, we felt a connection
with their coaches. They were real the whole time. They were not just telling
us what we wanted to hear to get us over there. We went over there for a visit
a few weeks back and we went out on their field. That was awesome. We just visualized
what it would be like to play for Ole Miss with all of those fans in the stands.
We got chills. We knew right then and there that we had found our home. We also
liked how they help their student/athletes out a lot with tutors and things like
that. Of course, our parents loved that," stated a chuckling Matt Snyder.
Matt
and Mike have the unique experience of coming from a family where their older
brother, Brandon Snyder, was a 1st round draft
pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the '05
draft. Their father pitched in the majors for 12 years and their grandfather pitched
during World War 11.
What kind of influence has that had with the Snyder
brothers?
"It is a big influence with me because my brother and dad
told us to be our best," added Matt
Snyder. My brother, Brandon, tells us to shoot for the top. My granddad started
playing in World War 11. Having someone you trust to give you all of the information
you need to get to the top and to show us how to get there is huge. That is the
biggest thing. All three of them (dad, granddad, and older brother) got there,
so it is not like someone talking to you that has never made it to the top. We
(Mike and I) get a perspective about the game that not many people get, at least
not many that are that close to them."
 |
| Mike
Snyder |
Mike Snyder also believes his families
influence has made an impact with him.
"We eat, sleep, and breath
baseball around here. We love it. My grandfather played in the league during World
War 11. I could not say how valuable my father and grandfather have been to me
and Matt. My father coaches baseball now. He runs lessons ever since he retired
in the 90's. We had four or five schools that joined a company called Sand Lot
Baseball. Everything we do around here is about baseball," added Mike Snyder.
Matt
is a firstbaseman and Mike plays thirdbase for Westfield High. Playing the corner
positions is something they hope to do for three to four years at Ole Miss.
"It
was always a thought of ours to keep playing together," added Mike
Snyder. "It was always a dream of ours to go the same school, play the
corners (1B and 3B) for hopefully another 3 to 4 years. I think me and Matt can
get Ole Miss over the hump. Coach Rob said if we can hit to our potential, it
will get Ole Miss to the World Series. It will be a little while before we are
captains for Ole Miss, because we will be new, but when I was sitting with Coach
Bianco in his office and staring at the SEC championship that sits behind his
desk, I said I wanted more and he just smiled and said me too. Ole Miss is about
winning and nothing else."
Mike actually got a chance to see what
Ole Miss was all about while watching the Rebels play in the Sub Regional against
Texas.
"I was watching them on TV, and I looked at every single one
of their players, and I knew they had that attitude to win. Coaches Bianco and
Rob are great guys to talk to. Coach Rob told us about all of the fans and how
crazy it gets up there. I knew about it already because I watched them on TV against
Texas. I knew about their atmosphere. It is kind of like a pro game. I get chills
just thinking about it. We are just really/really ready to get Ole Miss to the
World Series so we can look up in the stands and know we made the Ole Miss family
proud."
Mike, who bats from the right side of the plate, has been
starting at 3B for Westfield since his freshman season. As a junior, Mike batted
.429 with 8 HR's, and 29 RBI's. He was named All-District as a DH.
"At
the plate, no matter what the count is, I am very confident I am going to get
the big hit. In the infield, I am very confident. I work hard during practice
and in the batting cage at home. I never get down on myself. I pick myself up.
I basically learn from every game and every practice at what I can do better."
Matt has been starting at 1B since his freshman season and led Westfield
in batting average (.431) and RBI's (31) last season. He also chipped in 5 Hr's,
21 doubles, 12 walks, and 7 k's as s junior. He was named 1st Team All-District
for his accomplishments.
"Being a left handed hitter, my power to
the gaps is my biggest strength. My dad and older brother stressed to hit the
ball to the opposite field and hit the gaps. That is my biggest strength as a
hitter. But I like to show a lot of leadership too. I give criticism in a positive
manner."
Will Matt and Mike follow in their older brother's footsteps
by going straight to the pros, or do they see themselves going the college route
first?
"Brandon signed with LSU, but it was his dream to play pro
ball and get paid," added Mike Snyder. "He decided to take his number
one dream and play pro ball. But my thought is that I am not strong or big enough
or experienced enough to play pro ball. If someone just game me some crazy money,
I would go do it, but I am almost positive I am going to be playing for Ole Miss
first. My brother is too."
Matt and Mike play for the Virginia Cardinals
in the Fall and the Tidwell Orioles in the summer.
Matt and Mike were
also recruited by LSU, Alabama, Clemson (father played at Clemson), Virginia,
Tennessee, South Carolina, Marshall, and Vandy before deciding on Ole Miss.