Five years ago as a senior at Wright City High School, Eric Burton’s priorities were misaligned. Sports came first, then leisure time. Schoolwork, on the contrary, was much farther down the line. The three-sport athlete was being courted by colleges to play both basketball and football. In many ways, Burton was on top of the world. But then came the startling reality. A poor academic record stood in the way of Burton and his future in sports. “I was that kid who worked hard at sports but not in academics,” confessed Burton. “Once I got out of high school I learned that working hard really does get you somewhere in life.” When Burton turns the tassles on his graduation cap during winter commencement at Culver-Stockton College this December, it will signify more than an academic accomplishment. The symbolic move will mark the completed transformation of a once unmotivated teenager to a mature adult. “I feel accomplished to have gotten out of Wright City and be earning my degree,” said Burton. “I hold my future in my hands now.” Burton’s road to a college baseball career wasn’t the most traditional, nor the smoothest. It may, however, have been the most rewarding journey. “That’s the road I had to take,” said Burton. “Now that I’m a couple of months from graduating, I realize this has made me a better person.” Burton faced multiple bouts with adversity, some self-imposed, others the result of misfortune. Burton’s story is one of lessons learned the hard way. “College is a chance for a young man to grow into an adult, and Eric is a good example of that,” said Culver-Stockton Coach Kevin Koch. With weak grades limiting his school choices to junior and community colleges, he was no longer in control of his future. The only sport available at many schools was baseball and fortunately for Burton, he was pretty good at that too. He landed at St. Charles Community College in the spring of 2008, after spending a semester at Jefferson College. It took Burton an entire year to achieve athletic eligibility, and during that time he desperately craved a return to sports. He joined the school’s baseball team as a pitcher, despite having been an outfielder most of his high school career. His performances on the mound weren’t staggering, but they were good enough to garner interest from a small school in Northeast Missouri. Challenged by his parents, Burton arrived in the rural community of Canton in the fall of 2009. “There were times at Culver when I just wanted to give up,” acknowledged Burton. “Being a college athlete and taking 15 credit hours can be a lot on your plate.” In a matter of three weeks, Burton made the transition from closer to reliever and eventually starter. By season’s end, he had made 11 appearances, including eight starts. He recorded a 4.91 ERA through 44 innings pitched. Burton hit what he considers the peak of his career as a junior in 2011. Culver-Stockton was riding a Heart of America Athletic Conference championship into the national tournament when Burton delivered a shutout through four innings of work against the top-seeded team. “It was one of the biggest accomplishments I had in college,” recalled Burton. “It was a great experience, and we had the talent to get to the World Series.” Burton went 4-2 throughout the season, sporting a 4.50 ERA through 34 innings of work. He struck out 24 batters and walked 20, giving up 35 hits. Enthusiastic about the opportunities awaiting him as a senior, Burton headed to Kansas over the summer to participate in the Walter Johnson College League. After throwing six innings during an outing, he began to feel a nagging tightness in his elbow. “I started dealing with pain that I had never had before, and I’d wake up with my elbow being locked straight,” explained Burton. He wrote it off as fluid build-up or routine postgame stress but the injury’s persistence eventually prompted him to return home to Missouri for medical advice. “That’s when they told me the bad news,” said Burton. He was diagnosed with a torn Tommy John ligament, one of the most prominant pitching injuries. While recovery is typically successful following surgery, rehab can take at least a full year. Burton knew that would mean sitting out his senior season, so he decided to let his elbow heal itself. “It would take four to six months to heal,” said Burton. “I didn’t want to face the risk of surgery.” After several months without throwing, Burton returned to the mound last November. With a first-year coach taking over the Culver-Stockton program, Burton realized he would have to prove his worth again — this time with a vulnerable elbow. “When push comes to shove in your final season you do what it takes to finish it out,” said Koch, in admiration. Burton was what Koch considered his second starting option, pitching 64 innings and going 3-6 over the course of the season with a 5.91 ERA. “I pitched as much as I could, dealing with a lot of pain in the days to follow,” said Burton. Culver-Stockton struggled its way to a 16-31-1 finish. On top of his baseball responsibilities, Burton juggled a role as a volunteer firefighter while putting the finishing touches on his sports management degree. “He had a lot of irons in the fire,” added Koch. “He made a big commitment this (past) year.” This summer Burton is interning as a public relations specialist and pitching coach for the Newton Rebels of the Walter Johnson League. He is considering trying out for the River City Rascals or a similar independent league team. Baseball is not out of the picture for Burton, but sports are no longer most important to him. Five years ago that was not the case. “It’s fun to be a good athlete in high school, but what really matters is getting a good education,” said Burton.