Upland standout Conner Shepherd picks a college

Third baseman Conner Shepherd of Upland has picked a college and he’s headed quite a distance from home.

Shepherd, a first-team All-Baseline League selection, will play at at NCAA Division I Florida International in Miami.

Shepherd hit .440 with 5 doubles, a home run and 27 RBI.

He was also considering prominent programs in Clemson, UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State and Arizona but the Florida school found out about him through Dave Coggin, owner/operator of Performance Fitness for Athletes.

Shepherd hasn’t been to the school but his father had to go to South Florida on a business trip and was able to check it out for him.

The FIU Panthers play in Conference USA and traditionally play a solid schedule of Division I opponents. They also played and exhibition game against the Miami Marlins this season.

“They needed a position player and a left-handed bat and that’s me,” eh said. “It will be a great opportunity and I’m excited.”

The team is coached by Turtle Thomas, a highly regarded collegiate coach particularly when it comes to hitting, another thing that was a major factor for Shepherd.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn from someone that is considered a guru when it comes to hitting,” Shepherd said. “I’d really like to get drafted and he’s the one that can get me closer to that goal.”

Shepherd plans to major in business management/marketing.

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