My name is Steven Herce, Will Rice 2003. Most of you probably remember me as the hard luck story of the 2003 National Championship team. I was supposed to come back and lead that vaunted pitching staff after a solid junior season but instead spent most of the season on the shelf with a shoulder injury no one could diagnose. To lay it to rest up front: yes, the national championship was bittersweet – only slightly bitter and incredibly sweet. What have I been up to since then?
I graduated a few months before Omaha with a B.A. in political science, a bum shoulder and visions of law school. Fortunately, through some incredibly intense physical therapy (thanks Dr. Ed Kieke and the folks at Koala Health and Wellness!) I was able to get healthy enough to get drafted in the 17th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately, a fastball that looked more like a change-up in the second championship game against Stanford and I was back on the shelf. This time I felt something pop but was still unable to get a diagnosis.
It took six more months of daily, intense physical therapy (again, no surgery since no one could diagnose the injury) to get healthy enough to throw for the scout that drafted me. I reckon I threw hard enough because in November of 2003 I finally signed a professional contract. While rehabbing my shoulder I clerked for Doyle, Restrepo, Harvin & Robbins, LLP, the law firm of James Doyle, Wiess 1967, and father of fellow RUBPA board member Paul Doyle. A big thanks to Mr. Doyle as it was there that I learned I didn’t want to be an attorney!
I reported for spring training in 2004 and was asked to stay in extended spring so that the Pirates could get a better look at me and the progress I had made. I reported to short season Williamsport of the NY-Penn League in June of 2004 where I was quickly pegged as a long reliever after five shutout innings of relief in an 18 inning game. My numbers were respectable out of the bullpen. I made two spot starts, taking a perfect game into the sixth in the first start against the New Jersey Cardinals, only to lose the perfect game, the no-hitter and the shutout on a solo home run. It was quite possibly the worst 0-2 inside fastball I ever threw, as it was neither fast nor inside. The words of wisdom from my catcher and roommate, which I will not repeat here, following that homerun, are my fondest memory of professional baseball. Well, that and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the locker room before every game.
I worked hard that off season, getting ready for spring training, working for Doyle, Restrepo, and making up for time away from my wife, Terra, Will Rice 2001, and son Jimmy Danger (yes, his middle name is Danger). I reported to spring training in 2005 in great shape and ready to go. I put up 10 perfect innings of work over a half dozen or so spring training appearances to which the Pirates said, “You don’t throw hard enough and there are a lot of guys in front of you.” The writing was on the wall. I called it a career and came back to Houston.
With a B.A. in political science, no desire to go to law school, and a young wife and son I did what anyone would do, I mooched off my parents. That’s not true. I took a position as a financial advisor with a firm here in Houston. I have been a financial advisor since June of 2005 and have loved every minute of it. In building a financial advisory practice around former Rice athletes, alumni, and friends of the program I have met and in some cases even done business with some incredibly successful Rice alums.
As you can see my life has moved pretty quickly since graduation. Aside from raising my son and preparing for our latest arrival – due in November – and spending time with my wife, nothing has been more fun and brought me a greater sense of accomplishment than working to build RUBPA. I had no idea when Jon Skaggs called me in October of 2005 and suggested we go meet with the alumni association about this that I would be this involved and so invested in RUBPA’s success. So I dedicate this first, hopefully not too disastrous, former player spotlight to Jon. Even though you stole the idea from Coach Prather and Paul Doyle, I respect your foresight and appreciate you thinking of me in getting the ball rolling.