SHREWSBURY, Mass. — Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Ian Seymour grew up in Westborough, Massachusetts, and went to St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury. Seymour pitched the Pioneers to a state championship his senior year, and his coach, Charlie Eppinger, got to see the talent and drive up close.

“He was a fierce, fierce competitor,” said Eppinger. “He took himself seriously, but not too seriously. He was a tremendous teammate. You know, he came in as a sophomore in many big games and was never afraid of the situation.”

Eppinger and current St. John’s coach Casey Cummins have really enjoyed watching Seymour on baseball’s biggest stage, the World Series.

“It’s surreal to see him on screen and watch him play,” said Eppinger. “My son and I have been following the whole season very, very closely, but it’s just crazy to be there in the World Series.”

“To have an athlete like Ian have so much success at the professional level,” said current St. John’s head coach Casey Cummins, “and then, obviously, there are many people who have become Tampa Bay Rays fans in this area.”

Even though it says Tampa Bay across Seymour’s uniform, he’ll always be a Pioneer.

“I can’t coach him anymore,” said Eppinger. “It’s beyond my pay grade, but it’s great to catch up with him and experience his successes with him. And when he’s had a couple of, you know, pieces of adversity or a couple of bad outings, it’s nice to just try to give him a word of encouragement that we’re all still thinking about him and rooting for him.”

Seymour’s success is a source of pride for all of St. John’s High School.

“Hopefully he continues to succeed. For this series, it would be awesome to say we have a World Series champ,” said Cummins. “No matter how this series turns out, we’re incredibly proud of Ian as an alum and as a former member of our program.”

Every time Ian Seymour takes the mound in this World Series, he carries with him the pride of those from his hometown and his high school, who are all rooting for him to lift baseball’s ultimate prize.