Keaton Latlip (Blue Spring South, ‘21) is going into his second season as a starting middle infielder for the 18u Silvestri showcase team. We sat down with the sure-handed defender to learn about what motivates him and to hear about his recruiting experience.
UPDATE: After this article was written, Keaton Latlip was named to the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Academic All-American Team.
To kick things off, your family has a long history with Inside Edge. What do you think about being the last Latlip to play for IE?
I haven’t really thought about it…not yet, anyway. My dad was one of the first coaches at IE, and he’s still pretty involved with the program. His being a part of the program has really helped me stay focused and not waste energy on things that don’t matter.
My older brother David started with IE during the first season and played here every year through high school. He isn’t playing in college, but he is a student coach at Mizzou. He’s also a hitting instructor with IE and The EDGE, and working with him made me the hitter I am today. A lot of my success goes to working with him.
It’s a huge honor for me to get to be a part of this program. Having a family tie to the program definitely influenced how I play and the goals I’ve set for myself.
We consider IE to be family, but the Latlip family gives that a whole new meaning. Outside of your family tie, what does playing for IE mean to you?
Inside Edge got me to the next level. It is always a great thing to go up to the facilities and to pull on the IE jersey on game day. The coaching and development staff is one of the best in the KC area.
I’m not the biggest guy on the field, so I always struggled with the idea of the eye test. Coach Clausen and Coach Silvestri helped me understand that heart and effort always beat size. They enforced an attitude of never giving up and working harder than the person in front of you. That really helped me to appreciate that there will always be someone better and stronger; I simply have to outwork them and be better.
That is an important lesson, and it’s clear that you applied it and earned the opportunity to play baseball in college. What can you share about the recruiting process with MCC Maplewoods?
I chose to play Juco baseball because I believe it will be a great starting point for me to get bigger, faster, and better at baseball. I consider it a starting point because I plan to work hard for 2 years so I can transfer to a high D2 or even a D1 program.
When I got on campus, I knew I was at the right place. I really like Coach Kilgore and everything he is doing with the program. I also like that campus isn’t too far from home. I am grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to getting on campus and getting to work.
The Covid restrictions really messed up recruiting this past year, and I was getting frustrated because I couldn’t get in front of any coaches. Fortunately, Coach Clausen introduced me to several schools, and I know the coaches at Maplewoods reviewed by PBR profile before inviting me to visit campus.
We know how frustrating recruiting has been due to covid, so it’s great to hear a success story like yours. We can’t wait to watch your continued development.
What can you tell us about who you are off the baseball field to close out your interview?
When I’m not at the field I love to go catfishing with my friends. Every night during the summer we will be out there on a dock for hours, listening to music and chilling. I love to do landscaping and yard work around my neighborhood, too. I turned that passion into my summer job.
In closing, I want to thank Coach Clausen, Coach Silvestri, my dad, and my brother David. I know I wouldn’t be where I am without each of them.
