When the time came to join the 91原创 Blaze baseball program, Scott McCarthy initially balked at the thought.

McCarthy was short and pudgy. Fat, in fact, by his own admission.

Fifteen-years-old, he was five-foot-six and 185 pounds, not exactly the prototypical body type of a baseball player.

Sure, a big slugging first baseman might possess those physical attributes 鈥� think John Kruk or Cecil Fielder 鈥� but McCarthy was a utility infielder, shifting between second-base, shortstop and third-base.

Those positions rely on speed and agility.

But while he was hesitant to go out for the Blaze鈥檚 junior program 鈥� very easily the top high school baseball program in all of Canada 鈥� his dad convinced him to give it a try.

And a talk with Doug Mathieson, the general manager and architect of the Blaze Premier program, also set him on the right track.

Every morning at 6:30 a.m. McCarthy would drag himself out of bed 鈥� an hour earlier than usual 鈥攁nd go for a run. While not exactly his favourite thing to do, he did it religiously.

Soon the pounds, about 30 of them, came off. And after that, McCarthy started hitting the gym, adding muscle to his frame.

Three years later, and the 18-year-old is a lean five-foot-nine, and 165 pounds.

鈥淚 ran a ridiculous amount and worked out all the time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 knew I had to do it if I wanted to (get) to this point.鈥�

With the weight off and increased muscle, he noticed improved speed not only swinging the bat, but also on the base paths.

鈥淚t was the best decision I ever made,鈥� he added. 鈥淲hen I see people I haven鈥檛 seen in a long time, they don鈥檛 even recognize me.鈥�

In addition to his workout regimen, he also gave up fast food, not the easiest thing to do when your friends don鈥檛 share the same athletic goals.

He admits his body could still use some more muscle, but it has helped him achieve a major goal: obtaining a college scholarship.

McCarthy, who has been playing baseball since he was five with North 91原创 Diamond Sports, graduated from Walnut Grove Secondary in 2010, and is joining Roane State Community College, a small school in Tennessee.

鈥淪cott will be filling a big role for us,鈥� said Roane State coach Dave Lane. 鈥淥ur third-baseman this season is a guy that has put up some impressive numbers for us (and) I feel Scott will be able to do the same thing next season too.鈥�

McCarthy used Cardinal Sports Management, a recruiting agency associated with the Blaze, which helps match athletes and schools.

He sent out information to probably 100 or so schools, and Roane was one of the ones which contacted him. The school invited him out for a visit, he liked what he saw, and he signed his verbal commitment.

He credits Mathieson, and Blaze coach Jamie Bodaly for helping him get to this point.

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do it without them,鈥� McCarthy said.

He is also looking forward to improving in his final season with the Blaze.

鈥淚t is really relieving to have the decision out of the way,鈥� he said. 鈥�(Now) I can play this whole year without having to worry (about my future).鈥�

Last season, McCarthy hit .405 with nine RBIs and four stolen bases in 24 games, and he hopes to build on those numbers with some increased playing time in 2011.

鈥淗e has worked hard to improve himself to be a Premier League player,鈥� Mathieson said, noting McCarthy鈥檚 effort.

鈥淗e has come a long way the past two or three years,鈥� Bodaly added.

鈥�(And) he has a really good glove and he will give us everything he has got.鈥�

The Blaze, who returned last week from their annual visit to Arizona for spring training, are in Kamloops this weekend as they look to successfully defend their Best of the West tournament title.

The B.C. Premier Baseball League regular season begins April 9 and the Blaze鈥檚 first home game at McLeod Park is April 10.