Please help us petition Charlie Baker, President of the NCAA, to reconsider the eligibility guidelines regarding my nephew, Brock Murtha, a senior midshipman and baseball player at the U.S. Naval Academy and an exceptional young man. 

Brock has had a lifelong dedication to baseball, which led him to the U.S. Naval Academy after a challenging period impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Notre Dame. Brock was a 2020 high school graduate and outstanding high school baseball player from Sayville NY.  The Covid pandemic canceled his high school senior season when he would have been Captain and was on track to break several school and state records.  Despite signing to play at the University of Notre Dame early in his High School career, his initial years there were significantly impacted by the pandemic as well due to the eligibility extensions granted for older junior and senior players, resulting in very minimal playing time for him across a handful of games in late innings.  In fact, he only had one at bat during his entire freshman season and then a redshirt sophomore year. At age 20, he made the selfless decision to leave his dream school, friends and teammates and transfer to the United States Naval Academy, sacrificing two years of academic credits and committing to five years of military service post graduation, solely to pursue his passion for baseball. This life altering decision took a lot of maturity and reflection that was well beyond his years. Brock has fully embraced military life and has thrived at the Naval Academy adhering to the Core principles of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Now that he has reached his Senior year at the Naval Academy and completed three full seasons as an outstanding second baseman, he is being told that the freshman year at Notre Dame counts as a full season despite hardly any playing time and that he is not eligible to play in his Senior year for the Naval Academy which is obviously heartbreaking news after all he has gone through. 

Given the unique circumstances Brock has faced due to the lasting effects of COVID-19 on collegiate athletics, which denied him his high school senior season and significantly impacted his early college career, we humbly request a final exception.  Allowing Brock to complete his senior year with the Naval Academy baseball team would mean a great deal to him and our family as he concludes his baseball career and prepares for his future military obligations. I would love to see that spark in his eyes again and see him have that moment of recognition with his Mom and Dad that every athlete in their Senior Year is entitled to.  He will be serving our country in potentially dangerous situations for at least the next five years. Granting him a final year of baseball would be a tremendous recognition of his sacrifices and dedication.

Thank-you for your support and consideration of this most deserving young man.