COLLEGE BASEBALL: DREAM COME TRUE FOR CORNING'S CHAMBERLIN AS HE SIGNS TO PLAY AT NAVY (7 PHOTOS) (2022-05-17)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
CORNING — Ever since he was three years old, serving as the bat boy at his older brother’s games, Aidan Chamberlin seemed destined to be a baseball player.

And now, as his high school career is nearing a close, Chamberlin is ready to keep that career going as he is committed to play baseball at Navy.

“It definitely feels great to kind of make it official,” Chamberlin said. “It’s been a long four years and to kind of finally complete the last part of my dream of playing baseball, to have it come true is definitely a good feeling.”

Ever since he was watching his brother’s games Chamberlin knew he wanted to be a baseball player, and as he got into his school years he realized college was a possibility.

“I was hanging out with high school baseball players for my whole life,” Chamberlin said. “From a really early age I knew I wanted to play baseball for a while.

“Baseball kind of runs in the family, my brother played and I kind of grew up watching him, so for a long time I kind of knew I wanted to play baseball for as long as I could. Probably middle school is when I realized I could probably take this for four years of college.”

For Chamberlin there was a lot of time, and thought, that went into picking the perfect school.

“It was a long process, I will say that,” Chamberlin said. “I was pretty slow in it, and I wanted to make sure I made the right decision. Between the military aspect, which was huge for me, and the baseball program, I love the coaches at Navy. They are historically a really good team and I like what they bring to the table, so it was a pretty straightforward choice for me.”

The Corning star knows there is a lot of work to do as he gets ready for the Division I level.

“It’s definitely going to be tough,” Chamberlin said. “I know I have a ton of work to do. My goal is still to go in and play from day one. I know to do that, even though I may be finishing high school shortly, the work is just starting.

“So, from the jump that’s my goal, to take nothing for granted and hopefully find a spot my freshman year.”

There are a lot of great memories from high school, but the biggest movies are just the time with his teammates.

“Definitely my teammates, and it’s even simple stuff like bus rides back from an away game after a big win will forever be the most fun, most enjoyable part of high school sports,” Chamberlin said. “That’s something I’ll miss the most, but I’ll also hold closest to my heart.”

The Corning star is planning to think about the business side of things in college.

“Right now, I think I’m going to do economics,” Chamberlin said. “After graduation right now I think the branch that interests me the most is the Marine Core. But, obviously that could change, but I think definitely the business side of things. And, between that, and baseball it will take up most of my time.”

The military wasn’t always the plan for Chamberlin, but as he visited Navy he knew it was the right place for him.

“Honestly, it (the military) was not (always the plan),” Chamberlin said. “But, my dad was a West Point grad, so he kind of had a different perspective on it. When I visited the Naval Academy and after talking to the coaches I realized it was something I wanted to do.”

Chamberlin is ready to get started and see what college is like.

“I’m really excited for next year,” Chamberlin said. “It’s a whole new experience, its’ a new level of baseball I haven’t played at previously, so I’m excited for the challenge and definitely ready to get to work.”

The plan, as of now, for Chamberlin is to play as a pitcher, and a hitter in college.

“I think they are looking at me to do both,” Chamberlin said. “Long term, who knows, but I think at least from day one I’ll be playing the outfield and pitching.”
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IN TOP PHOTO: Corning’s Aidan Chamberlin. . . PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES