Poma’s already getting used to U.Va.’s orange and blue.

Henrico’s J.C. Poma
had committed to non-scholarship Davidson to quarterback the football
team. That was solid in January when an annual baseball coaching clinic
commenced in Richmond.

Warriors baseball coach Ken Schrad spoke his mind to the University of Virginia baseball coaching staff, who spoke at the clinic.

“I just said, ‘Look, the kid is applying to U.Va. and has a 4.49
grade-point average. He’s going to be accepted,’ ” Schrad said. “I told
them I thought he could play at their level.”

As they say, the rest is history. U.Va. came down to see Poma and junior Seth Cutler-Voltz play in a 6-4 loss to Lee-Davis right before spring break. Poma went 2 for 2 with a double.

Then Poma, a catcher who leads the Warriors in hitting at
.520, wowed in the batting cage to earn a spot as an invited walk-on
for the Cavaliers, ranked third in the nation.

The Cavs only have 9 1/2 scholarships and since Poma was recruited
so late, he won’t get any athletic aid next season. But he certainly
looks to earn some academic assistance with his GPA and approaching
International Baccalaureate Diploma.

“You can’t pass that up,” said Poma Monday afternoon. “It’s a good
feeling. They didn’t see me until so late. They had done all of their
recruiting. It’s ironic. The only thing they didn’t get was a catcher.”

Poma didn’t play football until his ninth-grade year, when
he started at QB for the JV team. His next three seasons he was at the
helm of the Warriors’ varsity, with one playoff appearance.

“Corey Mosley is like one of my best friends,” said
Poma of the outstanding safety who signed with Virginia for football.
“I’ve got a feeling seeing him play his first game, I’m going to be
like, ‘Awww, man.’ “

Said Schrad, “I think it’s the right thing for J.C., academically and athletically.”