The Connection

John Yoest was one of the top pitchers in the Northern Region during his final two seasons as a member of the Yorktown baseball team. He was named National District Pitcher of the Year and second-team all-region as a junior, and district co-Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-region as a senior.

In 2012, Yoest picked up a save in a regional tournament victory over West Potomac three days after earning a victory in the district championship game. In 2013, Yorktown finished district runner-up after posting a 14-0 regular-season district record. The Patriots lost to Stone Bridge 1-0 in the regional tournament, but not due to lack of effort from Yoest. The right-hander tossed a complete game against the Bulldogs, allowing one run and six hits while walking two and striking out 11.

Yoest, a 2013 Yorktown High School graduate, will play baseball at the College of William and Mary. He recently participated in a Q and A with The Connection.

*Connection: What made William and Mary the right fit for you?

Yoest: William and Mary is the perfect school for me because it has great balance between athletic and academic prestige. I was looking to go to school where I could compete at a Division I level, and graduate with a well-respected degree. Go Tribe!

*Connection: What will you study?

Yoest: Political science — Vote Yoest in 2032!

*Connection: Any word on playing time as a freshman?

Yoest: Yes, Coach Pinzino was very straightforward with me in regards to playing time. When the team arrives in the fall, everyone has an equal shot at playing time. If you earn it through hard work and performance, you receive it. That's all I can ask for! I'm honored to be given a chance to compete at the Division I level.

*Connection: What is your favorite memory of playing baseball at Yorktown?

Yoest: It was truly awesome to play for Coach Ruck, Coach Murray, Coach Davis, and Coach Shreeve my senior season. They helped me break the Yorktown career strikeout record and also helped three co-captains take their baseball skills to college: Jake Marshall at Potomac State and Daniel Overbeek at Christopher Newport University. I loved playing with those guys!

*Connection: If you could go back and change one thing about your high school athletic career, what would it be?

Yoest: I would change absolutely nothing. There were definitely some rough patches and painful losses, but God made a very careful plan for me which could not have played out any better.

*Connection: At what age did you start playing baseball? When did you realize playing college baseball was a possibility for you?

Yoest: My Dad bought my first glove for me when I was 5 years old. In eighth grade, after I made the JV baseball team, my Dad congratulated me, and then pointed out that playing baseball was: "no longer 'just' a game." My Dad and my family have always believed I could take my skills to the next level. That encouraged and drove me to play as hard and as best I could.

*Connection: What’s the top speed one of your pitches has been clocked?

Yoest: 88 miles per hour.

*Connection: What are you most looking forward to about the transition from high school to college?

Yoest: I'm joining a baseball team that was ranked 28th in the country (collegiate baseball poll). That's enormously exciting!

*Connection: How many MLB parks have you visited?

Yoest: Four. (Go Nats!)

*Connection: Who is your favorite music artist? Why?

Yoest: Lecrae. He writes and performs meaningful music with brilliant lyrics.

*Connection: What’s your favorite movie? Why?

Yoest: “Anchorman.” Will Ferrell and Steve Carell are hilarious.

*Connection: What is your favorite hobby outside of baseball?

Yoest: I love to play guitar and piano.

*Connection: What location is the farthest you’ve traveled from the Washington, D.C. metro area?

Yoest: Los Angeles, Calif.

— Jon Roetman