Sherrieb enjoys giving back
This is the third in a series of articles profiling 2024 Freeport Area inductees into the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame
FREEPORT — Matt Sherrieb knew he was a good baseball player.
He just had not thought about it for a while — a long while.
“I’m 54 now, so that was a lot of years ago,” the 1997 Freeport graduate said of his baseball career. “I just haven’t thought about that time ... I guess that’s why this is so humbling, to be thought of as someone worthy enough to be in that class.”
Sherrieb was referring to the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame. He will be among the inductees at the organization’s annual banquet at 4 p.m. April 28 at Freeport’s Laube Hall.
Also a three-time all-district performer in American Legion baseball, Sherrieb ranked among the top five in many statistical categories for both section play and the WPIAL during his baseball years with the Yellowjackets. He was a running back-defensive back for the football team as well.
“We didn’t keep records at Freeport when I played,” Sherrieb said. “I guess my biggest claim to fame there was being one of only three people to hit a ball off the junior high building behind the right field stands at the Freeport Boro Field. I do remember that.”
He also remembers the support he received from dedicated coaches when he played baseball and football.
“I was coached by Bill Dillen, Don Earley, Bob Isenberg, Dave Fuherman, Bill Hancock, I could go on and on ... All of those guys are in or going into this Hall of Fame,” Sherrieb said. “They coached for years without having a dog in the fight and affected so many young lives in a positive way.
“From the time I started playing Little League until I stopped playing softball at age 35, I played on only one team with a losing record. When you have good players all around you, it’s easy to improve as a player yourself. Luck is a product of working hard and being prepared, so we made a lot of our own luck.”
Now living in the Wooster, Ohio, area, Sherrieb is doing the same. He’s been on the board of the Wooster Hall of Fame, coaches travel softball and youth basketball. His daughters, Sydney and Chloe, became volleyball players at Mount Vernon Nazarene and Ashland University, respectively, in Ohio.
“I’m a man of Christian faith,” Sherrieb said. “We have to build something. My parents were completely selfless. It’s important to give back.”
Sherrieb’s baseball success didn’t end at Freeport. He went o to play for the College of Wooster, becoming a four-year starter and two-time team captain. He made the all-conference team three times and was an NCAA Division III all-region all-star.
He helped the 1989 Wooster team reach the small college World Series finished his career ranked among the school’s top 10 in doubles.
“I was a jack of all trades in baseball, especially in high school,” Sherrieb said. “I caught, pitched a little bit, played shortstop and third base.”
He remains involved in sports today, but on the business side. He works as a salesman for Wilson Sporting Goods, selling equipment to minor league and college baseball teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia.
Tickets for the banquet are $40 and can be purchased from board secretary Dennis Wolfe at 724-882-3557.
