Trojan makes his way from the mound to the studio

Like many athletes, Troy baseball’s Sam Neal hopes to get his name called on TV. For Neal, it’s a more personal connection than it is for others.

“One of my summer coaches asked me before I entered the portal what my goal is,” Neal said. “I told him, ‘I want my dad to call my name on TV.’”

Neal’s father, Dave Neal, is a play-by-play announcer for ESPN with a big focus on the Southeastern Conference. Neal’s grandfather, Bob Neal, is also a sports broadcaster, formerly working for NBC, TNT and the Atlanta Falcons.

Neal, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, spends his time in the studio when he’s not on the diamond. The broadcast journalism major went straight from TrojanVision Midday to interviewee, still wearing his on-air suit.

“It was awesome being in front of the camera,” Neal said. “That was my first time doing sports anchoring, so that was really fun.

“I’ve done some play-by-play in the past, but this was a little easier, not having to think of stuff on the fly. It was awesome, and I love being in front of the camera.”

The Atlanta native has some time before that career fully takes shape, though. Currently, when he’s not on air, Neal is on the mound for Troy baseball, helping the team get back to Omaha this year.

Despite being a newcomer this season, transferring from Division II Young Harris, the south paw’s connection with Skyler Meade goes back almost a century.

“I’ve known coach Skyler Meade forever back when he was the pitching coach at South Carolina,” Neal said. “Traveling with my dad, I used to go to all the games.

“When I was about 11 or 12, I went to a South Carolina game and met Skyler. I kept in contact with him all throughout high school and out of high school it was ‘we’re interested but you’re just not there yet.’”

That’s where Young Harris College comes in. Neal spent two seasons at the liberal arts college located in Young Harris, Georgia, a town about seven minutes from the Georgia-North Carolina border.

“[Young Harris] was incredible.” Neal said. “I grew as a person on and off the field, and I met a ton of great guys that are going to be at my wedding in 10 years.

“I have nothing but love for that place. It was a tough decision to leave, tough to leave those people that are still there, but it really worked out for the better.”

In the two seasons that Neal called Young Harris home, the Mountain Lions went 81-35, making the DII southeast regional both years. When Neal entered the portal, multiple schools came calling, but one school stood out immediately.

“Skyler [Meade] called first couple days, and it was a no-brainer for me,” Neal said. “He was like, ‘hey you’re here now, let’s do it.’

“Knowing the guy he is, the pitching mind he is, I thought it was the perfect fit for me. It’s been incredible since I’ve been here.”

Notably, Neal’s father, Dave, does play-by-play broadcasting for regional and super regional games as part of the NCAA baseball championships. With the Trojans looking to keep momentum after a College Worlds Series appearance, Neal could hear his name called by his father as early as this season.

Neal and Troy baseball first start their conquest back to Omaha with a loaded fall ball schedule that sees the Trojans play Tennessee, Florida and LSU. The first of those fall ball games is a meeting with the Volunteers in Nashville on Sunday, Oct. 11.