By Hilary May, Special to ESPNRISE.com Baseball

Aaron Slegers is a right handed pitcher out of Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz.  Reportedly, in 2009 he 6-1 with an ERA of 1.32.  In his 41 innings pitched, he struck out 43 hitters.

ESPNRISE.com: If you could pick another sport to play, which would it be and why?

Aaron Slegers: I would play golf because I love how I'm responsible for 100% of my performance, whether it results in success or failure.  Also, when I play with other people it can get extremely competitive which really excites me.

ESPNRISE.com: What do your pre-game rituals consist of?

Aaron Slegers: During my pre-game rituals I always enjoy listening to fast, upbeat music like hip hop or rap.  This gets me excited and loose for the upcoming game.  I always try to get a long, deep stretch before each practice and game.  Right before the game, however, I always say a prayer to thank God for this opportunity and ask to keep me safe.

ESPNRISE.com:If you could face one hitter/pitcher of any era, who would it be and why?

Aaron Slegers: The hitter I would most like to face would be Mark McGuire.  I have seen in the 90's how he was one of the most feared hitters in the game and I would love to try my____ at getting him out.

ESPNRISE.com: Why do you play the game of baseball?

Aaron Slegers: I play the game of baseball because I love the amount of skill involved in the game.  This challenge truly intrigues me and I have not found this type of challenge in any other sport.

ESPNRISE.com: Who are the key influences to your success in the game of baseball?

Aaron Slegers: The key influence in my success in the game of baseball would have to be my dad.  He spent countless hours playing catch with me, hitting fungos, tossing balls in the batting cages as well as taking me to practices.

ESPNRISE.com: Where do you see yourself in baseball in the future and what are you doing now to get there?

Aaron Slegers: I see myself playing D-1 baseball for a major school.  I am preparing myself by working out 5 days a week and working as hard as I can every time I step on the baseball field.

ESPNRISE.com: What are your plans for the summer?

Aaron Slegers: My plans for the summer are traveling around to different colleges to get a better understanding of the college and college life.  I also plan on playing a lot of baseball on my summer teams and improving my skills.

ESPNRISE.com: If you could hang out with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Aaron Slegers: If I could hang out with one person, it would have to be with Nolan Ryan.  I would hang out with him because I loved his approach to pitching, how he would challenge every hitter and how he had complete confidence in his pitches.

ESPNRISE.com: What do you do when you are not playing baseball?

Aaron Slegers: When I am not playing baseball, I enjoy working out at my gym.  I also enjoy playing golf with my friends.

ESPNRISE.com: Who is your favorite music artist?

Aaron Slegers: My favorite music artist would have to be Lupe Fiasco.  I enjoy his music because it is an upbeat, hip hop style that rhymes and his music really gets me into a happy mood.

ESPNRISE.com: If you had a free round trip ticket to anywhere in the world,
where would you go and why?

Aaron Slegers: I would love to go to New York City.  I would travel there because I love the diversity of the region and there are endless things to do.  My destinations in the New York City and the State of
New York would be Wall Street and the Baseball Hall of Fame.  I would like to visit Wall Street because I would love to work there one day. I would also like to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame because I have never been there before and have always wanted to go there.

ESPNRISE.com: Write something interesting about yourself that most people don't know.

Aaron Slegers: Something very interesting about myself that not many people know is that I am a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church.  As a Deacon, I organize, coordinate, and help at many of the church's functions such as dinners, teaching Sunday School, and volunteering at the Children's Vacation Bible School.