A Lesson in True Grit—
John Bravette '95

by Brian Falzarano, Herald & News - May 15, 1999

Three years, three failures. John Bravette admits he loves nothing more than playing the national pastime, but never making the team at Seton Hall Prep, let alone never seeing the field, made him ponder putting his glove and cleats in storage.

"I'll tell you a story," Bravette said. "My senior year in high school I was going to either work at the A&P or try out again. My father told me to try out since it was my senior year. I was real close to giving it up. By being cut, it had put it in my mind I wasn't good enough." "Bravette gave it one last shot senior year and the Prep's coach, Mike Sheppard Jr. found him a roster spot. Bravette flourished there, showing a surprisingly potent stick and solid glove for someone standing about 5-8 and weighing 150 pounds. [Ed- winding up the Prep's MVP in 1995.] An Assistant Coach at Seton Hall University convinced him to continue his career on the collegiate diamond.

From there, Bravette's play has written a remarkable, if unlikely, success story. After his hustle enabled him to walk on at Seton Hall four years ago, the diminutive second baseman from Belleville became a fixture in the Pirates' lineup, earning a partial scholarship and becoming an All-Big East selection.

And to think, The Hall's coach, Mike Sheppard, Sr. too a look at Bravette at tryouts his freshman year and thought to himself, "I didn't think he was going to make it." Bravette has, even if he took an indirect route to success. He points out that teammates in high school made all-state, some of them even getting sniffs from pro scouts.

Before high school, Bravette was just like them: an all-star in Little League, one of the best youngsters Belleville put on a ball field. If he stayed in town, perhaps he would have blossomed. However his parents wanted him to go to Seton Hall Prep for the discipline a Catholic education provides. When he brought his bat, glove and cleats to the field for tryouts freshman ear, he was armed with te confidence of having been a star in his hometown. However, his lack of size and his frail frame seemed to get lost in the shadows then, and for the following two years.

"I probably was too small. Probably because I wasn't as big as the other guys, I didn't shine," Bravette said. "I didn't have the strongest arm, I didn't hit the ball farthest."

He never thought of transferring to Belleville High, mainly because his parents wanted him to graduate high school with a better education, which The Prep provided. However, he never obtained closure on the baseball field…."He just hung in there," Sheppard said. "You don't think he's big enough, strong enough to make our program. But it's hard to keep that kid out of the lineup.. He's kind of like Eddie Stanky."

Bravette never got any bigger. Despite taking enough protein shakes and supplements to keep GNC in business, he still stands all of 5-8 ½ and weighs 155 pounds—157 right after a meal. Yet he has hit .374 with four homeruns and 35 RBI, his home run total surprising when you take a look at how his uniform sags some on his frail frame.

"Maybe people look at him in his uniform and they're psychologically disarmed," Sheppard said. "John's approach really belies what's underneath."

Seton Hall is still fighting to make next week's Bib East Tournament, but Bravette's career might extend beyond this spring. He said there's been talk of him signing with a professional team as a free agent, either with a major league organization or an independent team. You look at him and think he's an unlikely pro prospect. Then again, that was the though of him throughout high school and even when he came to Seton Hall (University).

"Exactly. I just want the shot."

Kevin Sharpe, Class of 1977

Rich Miller,  Class of 1997
 
Sports Illustrated 2.25.00
 

Aug. 7, 1999, Star-Ledger

Sister Regina Cordis Conboy S.C. celebrates
70th anniversary as Sister of Charity