BY MICHAEL KELLY
Gazette Sportswriter
CLIFTON PARK — Maybe — perhaps — Ian Anderson’s life will now get back to normal for a bit.
After a spring and summer filled with dominating baseball diamonds from the pitcher’s mound, the Rexford resident — a 17-year-old senior at Shenendehowa High School — ended his competitive baseball year by helping USA Baseball win a gold medal at the 2015 WBSC U18 Baseball World Cup in Japan.
His latest baseball adventure? Reuniting Oct. 31 with his USA Baseball teammates for a Halloween filled with more treats than tricks, as honored guests at Game 4 of the World Series between the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets.
Before getting to hit the playing surface at Citi Field, the Mets’ home ballpark in Queens, Anderson got the chance to tour the nearby United States Tennis Association facility and participate in an event for youth players as part of the “Play Ball” initiative that Major League Baseball and USA Baseball have joined up to start.
Ian Anderson, left, is shown with New York Mets third baseman David Wright before the start of Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. (Photo provided)
All those were eye-opening experiences, but Anderson said before he left for the memorable day that he was most looking forward to the chance to catch up with the USA Baseball teammates he grew so close with this summer.
“This is going to be the first time for most of the guys to see each other since Japan,” said Anderson, a right-hander who is committed to Vanderbilt University.
During the World Cup, Anderson appeared twice and struck out eight in 62⁄3 innings, recorded a save, and allowed three runs — one of which was earned.
In the roughly two months since the conclusion of his stint with Team USA, Anderson has kept busy. He made his official visit to Vanderbilt University, and reaffirmed his commitment to attend the school next year; he’s regularly worked out with his twin brother Ben Anderson, who committed earlier this year to pitch collegiately at Binghamton University; and he recently finished up his fall work with the Shenendehowa baseball program.
“That’s a great opportunity for the younger guys to figure out what Shen baseball is all about,” Ian Anderson said. “This year was a little bit different for me. I really wasn’t throwing, so I was doing more coaching than anything, but it felt great to be there and be around all the guys.”
At this point, Anderson said he will rest his arm from throwing until January, only picking up a baseball here and there to work on pitch grips. Refraining from doing more than that, he said, makes the end of the year one of his least favorite times.
“It’s pretty tough, especially when you always have someone to play catch with,” he said, referring to his brother.
Anderson, who is considered a likely first-round pick in next June’s Major League Baseball amateur draft, said Game 4 was the first time he ever attended a World Series game. He said he had no problem figuring out which team to root for in the contest.
“I am a Red Sox fan, so my favorite New York team is the Mets,” he said.
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