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6/9/2001 - Baseball
Brad Deafenbaugh: From Pitcher to Doctor

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As a child, Brad Deafenbaugh had three dreams. Attending the Naval Academy, playing baseball at the Naval Academy and becoming a doctor. He has already accomplished two of those dreams and is on his way to completing the third and final dream.

Last month, Deafenbaugh graduated from the Academy with a degree in oceanography. He also capped a successful, four-year career on the baseball diamond, being named Second Team All-Patriot League and helping the Mids win the Patriot League regular season title.

Now, Deafenbaugh is about to make his third and final dream come true by heading off to medical school at the Medical College of Richmond in Virginia, which is affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University. He earned a Health Profession Scholarship and the Navy will pay for his education the next four years.

"Going to medical school is something I have always wanted to do," Deafenbaugh said. "Growing up, biology and science really interested me. We would go out fishing and then I would dissect all the fish we caught." It is easy to see why Brad is interested in medicine as his father, Capt. Martin Deafenbaugh, USN, is an orthopedic surgeon and Brigade Medical Officer at the Naval Academy. Martin spent 12 years working at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia before moving to Annapolis last year. While Martin has always been there to help Brad when it came to advice about medicine, he never steered his son into a potential medical career. "I really wanted to see him go into medicine," said Martin, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1973. "However, it was more important to present a clear perspective of all his options."

"It wasn't like he pushed it on me," Brad said. "He just wanted to make sure I picked something that I wanted to do. He has always been a role model for me, but it was my decision on what I wanted to do." Just like it was Brad's decision to come to the Naval Academy four years ago.

"We used to come up here and watch football games and that's when I got interested in it," Brad said. "Then in high school, I learned even more about it. I almost didn't come here because of my goal to go to medical school. Going to medical school from the Academy is a tough road, but I figured if I didn't come here I would regret it." He also got the chance to live out a dream of playing collegiate baseball, although he wasn't highly recruited out of Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Va.

As an all-district outfielder in high school, Brad became a member of the Navy pitching staff after a leg injury limited his mobility in the field. From there, the left-hander would spend the rest of his time on the mound for the Mids.

In 1999, Deafenbaugh led the Mids with a 3.33 earned-run average and tied for the team-high in appearances with 15. He finished the season with a 7-2 record, including a 4-2 mark in Patriot League games.

After a rocky junior season in which Deafenbaugh made six starts and went 3-3 with a 7.40 ERA, he rebounded with a strong senior campaign, leading the squad in appearances with 16, 13 out of the bullpen. He was named second-team All-Patriot League as a relief pitcher, going 2-0 with three saves in league games.

"It was hard after a strong sophomore year, because I had big expectations for myself going into my junior year but it just didn't work out the way I wanted it to," Deafenbaugh said. "Because of the strong starting pitching from our three sophomores this year, I just took the role as a reliever. I really enjoyed being able to come in to close situations and help the team out."

Deafenbaugh made 41 appearances during his career including 17 starts with a 4.66 ERA. He tossed eight complete games, posted a 12-8 record, and recorded five saves.

With his Academy days over, Brad said there are lot of memories that stand out, academically and athletically.

"I enjoyed the summers, travelling around on ships and doing the cruises. That was a lot of fun. On the field, it would definitely be my sophomore year when we made it to the NCAA Regionals. We played Alabama and I got to pitch against South Alabama. I also really liked the two trips out to Fresno (Calif.) and having the chance to play teams like Notre Dame and Fresno State and walking away, knowing that we could compete with them." Deafenbaugh will carry those memories with him as a new career is on the horizon in the world of medicine.

Last summer, Deafenbaugh did a one-month internship at Bethesda Naval Hospital and got to spend a week in different areas including internal medicine, surgery, optimology, and psychiatry. As for what field he decides to pursue, he is still unsure.

"Right now, I am leaning toward surgery but once I get to school, maybe I will like orthopedics because that is what I've had the most exposure to," Brad said.

Martin beams when talking of Brad's choice to follow his Dad's path to success.

"I could not be prouder," Martin said. "It is the greatest compliment a son can give his father."

Four years after entering the Academy, Brad will begin the next chapter of his life in Richmond, Va., where in four years he hopes to walk away with another diploma.

"I am excited because it will be a different experience than my Academy experience," Deafenbaugh said. "I think the Academy has prepared me pretty well. I know it is going to be tough but it's something I have always wanted to do. I am looking forward to it."