Buckley was born in Germany and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, both of his parents were athletes as well and represented South Africa's national baseball and softball teams. He has loved the game since he first picked up a baseball around age 5.
His primary position has been catcher since he was 12 and since then he knew his dream was to play division 1 college baseball in America.
He first came to the United States in 2018 to represent the South Africa U15 national team, and by the time he was 17 started to put his name out to recruiters around the world.
In January 2022 Buckley and his childhood coach Tanner Leighton devised a plan to make his dream a reality.
Using a recruiting website, Buckley got the email addresses of about 60 coaches in the Northwest and directly contacted them for a tryout. Then, in April of 2022, Buckley flew more than 9,000 miles away from home to Boise, Idaho, where his former coach now lives. From there the plan was to drive from school to school trying out for each team.
In January 2022 Buckley and his childhood coach Tanner Leighton devised a plan to make his dream a reality.
Using a recruiting website, Buckley got the email addresses of about 60 coaches in the Northwest and directly contacted them for a tryout. Then, in April of 2022, Buckley flew more than 9,000 miles away from home to Boise, Idaho, where his former coach now lives. From there the plan was to drive from school to school trying out for each team.
His first week in America was spent working out and learning to drive on the right side of the road. He prepared for a long journey and had nine schools ready to give him a shot.
From Boise, Buckley set off to Clackamas Community College for his first try out, then he had three other tryouts before coming to LB. At first it wasn't going to happen; LB had a game on the day Buckley could try out and he was going to miss his opportunity, but it got rained out. LBCC Head Coach Andy Peterson quickly contacted Buckley and invited him to a one-on-one workout.
“At other schools, I just joined in on the practice but this was a one on one,” Buckley said. “He immediately wanted me on the team.”
Following the LB tryout he finished off his trip, hitting four more schools on his way back to Idaho. After 2,500 miles on the road, he visited nine schools in 10 days then had a decision to make and chose the 2022 NWAC champions.
“I could have gone and played for practically all of them. LB gave me the best opportunity to develop.”
Buckley flew back home in May 2022 to prepare for his first year at LBCC. He got into contact with three of his new teammates to live with and on Sept. 8, 2022, moved to Albany. He started school and prepared for the 2023 season with his new team.
Assistant Coach Griffin Williams also joined the team as a coach in 2023. He knew Buckley’s story and understood the kind of pressure he was under being so far from home and trying to accomplish his dream.
“We were all a little shocked,” Williams said. The team took it in stride through and Buckley found his footing quickly.
In the fourth game of the season Buckley hit a home run that was a defining moment for him.
“Hey I’m here and I fit in,'' Buckley said.
He went on to play 19 games in the 2023 season with a batting average of .311. The team finished 29-18 and won the NWAC South region in their 2023 season.
Recently, during the 2023-24 winter break, Buckley’s former and current teammates, parents and coaches pooled money for Buckley to return home for Christmas for the first time since he moved here in September 2022.
“I'll forever be grateful for it,” Buckley said.
Now a sophomore, Buckley is looking forward to the 2024 season and is locked in on team success. “We're just focused on winning the NWAC.”
At a Glance:
From Boise, Buckley set off to Clackamas Community College for his first try out, then he had three other tryouts before coming to LB. At first it wasn't going to happen; LB had a game on the day Buckley could try out and he was going to miss his opportunity, but it got rained out. LBCC Head Coach Andy Peterson quickly contacted Buckley and invited him to a one-on-one workout.
“At other schools, I just joined in on the practice but this was a one on one,” Buckley said. “He immediately wanted me on the team.”
Following the LB tryout he finished off his trip, hitting four more schools on his way back to Idaho. After 2,500 miles on the road, he visited nine schools in 10 days then had a decision to make and chose the 2022 NWAC champions.
“I could have gone and played for practically all of them. LB gave me the best opportunity to develop.”
Buckley flew back home in May 2022 to prepare for his first year at LBCC. He got into contact with three of his new teammates to live with and on Sept. 8, 2022, moved to Albany. He started school and prepared for the 2023 season with his new team.
Assistant Coach Griffin Williams also joined the team as a coach in 2023. He knew Buckley’s story and understood the kind of pressure he was under being so far from home and trying to accomplish his dream.
“We were all a little shocked,” Williams said. The team took it in stride through and Buckley found his footing quickly.
In the fourth game of the season Buckley hit a home run that was a defining moment for him.
“Hey I’m here and I fit in,'' Buckley said.
He went on to play 19 games in the 2023 season with a batting average of .311. The team finished 29-18 and won the NWAC South region in their 2023 season.
Recently, during the 2023-24 winter break, Buckley’s former and current teammates, parents and coaches pooled money for Buckley to return home for Christmas for the first time since he moved here in September 2022.
“I'll forever be grateful for it,” Buckley said.
Now a sophomore, Buckley is looking forward to the 2024 season and is locked in on team success. “We're just focused on winning the NWAC.”
Name: Ethan Buckley
LBCC Sophmore Catcher
Age: 20
Number: 14
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
AAOT Physcology
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