(This story is in the May 31, 2023, issue of the Seminole Tribune).

NAPLES — The Seminole Tribe’s OB Osceola III couldn’t say no to the phone call, even though it came in the middle of his game.

He also couldn’t say no to the offer that came on the other end of the call.

It was from Florida State University assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator Rich Wallace, who made an offer to Osceola to become an FSU Seminole.

“My first sentence was ‘Hey coach, I couldn’t be more thankful to be a Seminole.’ I told him how much I want it and how much I want to work for it,” Osceola said.

Osceola’s verbal commitment to FSU means that he, if all goes according to plan, will be the first Seminole to play baseball for FSU. He would be following in the footsteps of Justin Motlow, who in 2015 became the first from the tribe to play football for FSU.

“It means a lot with the heritage,” said Osceola, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound left-handed pitcher. “Especially me as a Seminole, I try my best to symbolize some type of warrior out there on the mound.”

Osceola, 16, recently completed his freshman season on the Community School of Naples team, so it will be a few years before he suits up for FSU.

“I can’t wait to get to Florida State,” he said.

The earliest he can sign with FSU will be when he is a junior.

The phone call from Wallace, which was scheduled ahead of time, came while Osceola was playing centerfield in CSN’s game at Palmetto Ridge on April 25. With three generations of the Osceola family in the park, he briefly stepped away from the game and stepped into Seminole Tribe history with his verbal commitment.

“It was a very proud moment for him, for myself, for our family and probably for the tribe,” said OB’s father, OB Osceola Jr., who was in attendance along with his dad, OB Sr.

OB III described his family as “die-hard” FSU fans. He and his dad attended a football game last season in Tallahassee. Osceola said he was impressed with all the sights and sounds in the stadium, including the Osceola-Renegade team – an homage to the tribe’s war leader from the 1800s – that revs up the crowd and the ‘war chant.’

“It’s incredible. You can see videos, but when you’re in person you feel the crowd,” he said.

Osceola recalled as a youngster watching FSU football games on TV with his dad and Hollywood Councilman Chris Osceola.

“[Chris] is like a second father to me. Him and my dad are basically like brothers,” Osceola said.

Osceola said he’s grateful for everything the tribe and his family have done for him.

“I have a lot of people behind me, supporting me with the tribe. The councilman, the chairman, my father. The whole community is very good. They’re all backing me well and I couldn’t appreciate and thank them more,” Osceola said.

CSN finished with a 12-14 record. Osceola was 3-3 on the mound while averaging more than one strikeout per inning. He fanned 55 in 36 innings, according to stats on MaxPreps.com.

“For a freshman, he’s done really well. He’s got a good fastball for a ninth grader. He’s got good control over his curveball and changeup,” said CSN coach Chad Ott.

In April, the team went overseas and played a couple games in Italy. Ott said Osceola was pitching “lights out” against an Italian team until a blister sidelined him.

Baseball is a year-round sport for Osceola, who has played travel ball for several years, including presently with the CBU program.

In social media posts after making his commitment, he thanked current and past coaches as well as his future coaches in Tallahassee.