May 4, 2026 By John Sacco 5 min read

Nick Sampson sure knows how to make an entrance – at least a re-entrance – on stage and on a baseball field.

In his first at bat after a 14-game absence for Grove City College, Sampson belted a three-home run on an 0-2 pitch to help his team to a much-needed victory over Waynesburg.

He had missed time with a shoulder injury.

Sampson, equally as adept at acting, singing and baseball, is a Peters Township graduate. He is elated to be back in the Wolverines lineup and to be contributing in his senior season.

He was so good in his return, Sampson was Goliath.

The Wolverines’ senior was eight-for-10 against the overmatched Yellow Jackets. Sampson, who returned from a 14-game injury absence, made his first collegiate start at second base after spending his first three seasons as Grove City’s starting center fielder.

The doubleheader sweep solidified the Wolverines’ PAC tournament position and Sampson’s return lifts the team’s chances of defending its PAC championship of 2025.

Grove City starts its title defense as the No. 5 seed and plays Washington & Jefferson, 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ross Memorial Park.

Sampson has since settled in at second base.

“I was just about as surprised as anybody else,” Sampson said. “I’ve been working back with Rick, our athletic trainer, and the whole staff and they’ve been great. They helped me get through this and just to come back and be able to be on the field with the guys has been just incredible. Just to get back there and help them and help us through the rest of the season to get a chance to win was important.

“It was needed. I’m just glad I can be there to help. We’ve had a lot of big (injury) losses. It’s been a crazy season so far,

“One of the (main) reasons I came here to Grove City to play was just the program and the coaches. and just to be able to play. It was tough just sitting there and not being able to go to practice. It helped me with some schoolwork because it gave me some time for sure. It just got me itching. If I got the chance to come back and play, or any clearance or anything, I was going to take it.”

The day Sampson returned, Grove City was 9-12 overall. Since he’s been back in the lineup, the Wolverines have won six of eight through April 18.

“Being able to play for the last three years has been a blessing and to have this happen right at the start of the season was devastating.”

Last season, Sampson started all 44 games for Grove City and batted .316 with 54 hits with six doubles and 18 RBI. He was named All-PAC second team and to the PAC All-Tournament team. Sampson was named to the ABCA All-Defensive Team.

As a sophomore in 2024, he started 41 games, hitting .271 with 42 hits and 24 RBI with one home run. Sampson had 69 put outs and a .986 fielding percentage. In 2023, he started 37 games with a .352 batting average and with 51 hits. He smacked nine doubles, four triples and 27 RBI. He was voted PAC Newcomer of the Year and All-PAC Second Team.

“He got hurt in Florida diving for a ball,” Wolverines coach Matt Royer said. “As he was rounding third base (after his home run), I shook his hand. I said: ‘I guess practice is overrated.’ What a great kid. I know he was in pain. When he was hurt made me feel ill.”

Combined with other injuries, the defending PAC champions were like a MASH unit.

“Nick does things the right way,” Royer said. “As an outfielder he throws to the right base. He gets proper leads; he bust his butt when he runs. He beats throws. He’s smart. He knows what to do.”

Sampson’s diversity shines through, in his recent musical final recital, he was stellar, Royer said, among others. Sampson also sang in a variety of languages.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him as a dad,” said Sampson’s father David. “He works hard. He amazes us all with his ability to do different things and a lot of it comes naturally – just being able to do everything from performing to playing baseball to singing.”

Said Nancy Sampson, Nick’s mom: “It was his love of it all that encouraged us. He drove at all of it. I’m just excited for him.”

As part of his graduation and degree in music business requirements, Sampson had to leave Grove City’s spring trip to Florida, to join a touring choir of classmates who performed in about seven states at different churches.

“The diversity with my background in church, along with baseball growing up, just helped me with the person I am today,” Sampson said. “There are actually about four or five athletes who do musical related activities or just are a music major here at Grove City who also play sports. To do that and challenge ourselves. Music is in everything.”