Nathan Hafner is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Notre Dame Prep for AZPreps365.com.

Ty Borowski has a bright future ahead of him. As a senior at Notre Dame Prep, Ty is thankful for many of the impactful life lessons and moments throughout his life. Many people have left a mark, but most of all, his dad Joe.

Ty was born in Chicago during his father's career and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, early in his life. From there, the Borowski's settled in Arizona, their current home, because his dad would routinely be there for spring training.

Even though Ty does not remember his father's playing career, he still admires his dad for achieving his dream. Ty's father, Joe Borowski, is currently the assistant baseball coach at Notre Dame Prep and was a Major League closing pitcher. Joe Borowski finished his career with the Cleveland Indians. Baseball has been in Ty's life from the beginning.

“You know my dad is, he's my biggest role model. Whenever he gets fan mail or even gets recognized at the grocery store, it warms my heart, because I know how hard he worked towards his dream of being a professional baseball player.” said Ty Borowski.

Ty and his older brother Blaze both have special relationships with their father. Joe Borowski raised both of his boys to appreciate baseball and instilled toughness in them.

“Ah well, being that he has an older brother, he was always around this, and the great thing is that other kids that I coached with my older son had younger siblings his age.” said Joe Borowski. “So, they always were playing baseball and you could just see at a young age he got the grasp of it. And he's just a hardnosed player."

“He's stubborn sometimes but it it's good to have that quality because you know he's never going to give up. He's always out there fighting. He just enjoys playing the game and to tell you the truth, as a catcher, you're gonna get beat up. So, it's good that he bounces back after getting a bunch of bumps and bruises along the way.”

Ty has a fascinating insight into the world of professional baseball that not many people get to have. Having this perspective truly allows him to appreciate the body of work and the grind it takes to succeed in the game he loves.

“Yeah, well, I have been playing baseball my whole life, and I've seen people and even myself be affected by the outcome of a game. Baseball is a very mental sport, it has taught me to never let the outcomes and diversity in life get to you, because it will only cause you to fall even deeper in your head.” said Ty Borowski. “What you gotta do is you have to focus on the good things in life and always strive to be the best you can at everything.”

Ty is also a great teammate. He is a young man of character who will work to achieve his dreams and help others. It is truly remarkable how Ty can balance achieving success in the classroom and on the field. He respects and plays the game the right way. He also turns to his faith for guidance when hardships arise.

“It plays a big role, you know. I think when I got NDP. So, we're very faithful at school … you know, whenever there's a bad moment or anything, I can always rely on my faith to bring me up. And it always inspires me to be nice to everyone, because you never know what anyone's going through.” said Ty Borowski.

Ty enjoys team sports, and he wants to help the team in any way he can. This year, being his senior year, he wants to help the younger players and share what he's learned to help them better themselves.

“Practice makes perfect, and your coaches are always there to help you. And one thing I like to think about is how I can make the head coach think, I cannot take this guy out of the lineup” said Ty Borowski. 

Ty recognizes how much of an impact Notre Dame Prep has had in achieving his academic success. He looks to continue that path after high school, by earning an academic scholarship from his dream school, University of Arizona.

Ty also commented on the importance that his head coach Brian Fischer has played in improving his game and being the best player, he can be on and off the field. Fischer could not say enough about Ty’s dedication and leadership for the team. 

“Yeah, I’ve known the family for a long time.” said Fischer. “So, I've known Ty for a long time, and you know just over the years he's been a leader and just grown and been a big part of this program.”

Another impactful person in Ty's life is his grandfather. His grandfather was a fireman and has played a critical role in his thought process toward his future. Not only does he want to study business to ultimately open a gym, but he also wants to help serve and give back to his community as a fireman, continuing the family's legacy. From a young age, his grandfather would take him on rides in the fire truck, and this helped shape his desire to help and serve his community.

Ty Borowski has proven to be an excellent teammate and an overall great person. He has a bright future ahead of him and will be successful at anything he puts his mind to.