Bryan Willis' dream of starring on Wake Forest University's baseball team didn't work out as planned.
The Gilman graduate joined the program last October as a freshman and, during the five weeks of fall tryouts, poured his heart into winning a spot on the roster.
In the end, though, Willis was cut in December.
Yet the Roland Park resident was not deterred.
"I have never been one to quit at something," Willis said. "I have seen a couple of people who have. I have always been a person when someone tells me to give up, I am going to work hard and prove them wrong."
That has been his theme since the day after he learned he didn't make the team. The pitcher/outfielder worked constantly to improve his physical fitness, pitching mechanics and hitting.
Willis would do anything to give him a better shot of playing for the Demon Deacons in 2012.
"I am expecting to go down there and make a splash," Willis said of this fall. "I don't want to sound arrogant. I am confident I can make the team."
Willis hasn't not just been whistling in the dark. He has been following the formula that Wake's Forest coach Tom Walter gave him.
Willis said Walter told him if he hits like he did at the end of fall practice and can command three pitches, he's almost certain to make the squad.
Willis added 25 pounds to his 6-foot-5 frame and trained with a baseball coach, Ken Carlyle, last spring.
Moreover, Willis just finished playing for the Baltimore Redbirds, who compete in the Cal Ripken Jr. Collegiate Baseball League and play at Calvert Hall.
He decided to join the Redbirds, even through he hardly logged any playing time and spent most of this time throwing bullpen sessions.
Redbirds coach Mark Palmerino has been especially impressed with Willis' attitude. Willis pitched only three innings in relief for the 18-15 Redbirds.
"You don't see too many kids in this day and age with his determination with no guarantees that it will pay off," Palmerino said. "He is an extremely hard worker. Every day he is running, doing the bullpen sessions and asking a lot of questions."
Palmerino told Willis he had to work on his pitching mechanics above all else this summer. Besides playing with the Redbirds, Willis has been tutored by John Hopkins University pitching coach Matt Righter.
"The first couple of days, when I saw him in the bullpen, I said, 'He needed work,'" the coach said. "There definitely has been improvement since then."
While Willis consistently registers in the 88-90 miles-per-hour range on his fastball, he's also improving his curve ball and change-up to go along with a slider.
"I am working on my mechanics so they are consistent," Willis said. "I know when something doesn't feel right, I can make a change or correction. It really wasn't something I could do in high school."
Willis excelled in football and basketball at Gilman, but had just as much an impact on the Greyhounds' baseball team in 2010. He picked up the win in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship game to end Calvert Hall's five-year run of titles.
Willis went 4-2 with a 2.50 ERA and recorded five saves. He also batted .450 with five home runs and 44 RBIs for the Greyhounds.
"He is a great leader," Gilman baseball coach Larry Sheets said. "That's his personality. He was the missing part that left us. Things will go well for him (at Wake Forest) because of his work ethic."