As Mitch Weaver nears the end of an illustrious high school career, both on and off the field, his initial thoughts are about how much fun it has been to be involved in so many activities, and how he wished he had time to do a few more things.

Because for the Carthage senior shortstop, participating in sports and being an integral part of his school and his community have been fulfilling for several years.

"It's hard to believe it's nearly over,'' Weaver said. "But looking back I'm really glad I had the opportunity to do so many positive things. And I'll take what I learned and hopefully it will help me be a success in college as well.''

To call the three-sport standout a success is to minimize his accomplishments.

On the playing field, Weaver has been a three-time Times All-North soccer performer in his four years on the varsity, a three-year member of the varsity basketball team, and a Times All-North baseball selection last year in his second year of varsity competition.

Weaver also has excelled in the classroom. He is a member of the National Honor Society as well as participating in the French Club, Habitat for Humanity, the Math league, Science Olympiad and the Pratt Northam Advisory Council.

He also plays the trombone and has been a member of the Carthage wind ensemble and stage band.

Weaver's community projects are varied. They include: Watertown Nazarene Youth Group and Youth Council, VBS volunteer, and volunteering as a coach for several youth sports camps. As part of his Social Studies 12 Honors service projects, he has participated in the school blood drive, Salvation Army bell ringing, veterans dinner, and a dodgeball tournament to benefit Drug Awareness for Elks.

Among his many honors are the Clarkson Leadership Award, the Cody Chirico Basketball Award and numerous Frontier League all-star awards. He also played on the Central Region Empire State Games soccer team for two years, and has been on Olympic Development soccer teams.

Weaver said staying busy and doing worthwhile things for his school and community are an essential part of his adolescence.

"Having two teachers for parents (Marty and Maureen Weaver), being a good student and a good citizen has always been important,'' Weaver said. "I've played three sports for as long as I can remember, so that's come naturally. Budgeting my time has taken a lot of hard work.''

As far as Weaver is concerned, his ability to focus in sports has helped him become a better student. "Attention to detail and making sure you are fundamentally sound is so important in sports. It's the same in the classroom. Concentration is so important, and I think I've learned how to do that pretty well.''

That was never more true than at the beginning of this season when Weaver, who batted .493 last year, started in an 0-for-12 slump.

"For most kids, that would be the end of their season,'' said Carthage coach Joe Sech. "But Mitch is able to take that pressure and make it work for him. He's such an aggressive and confident kid. He just knew that he would break out eventually.''

And that Weaver did. He has rebounded by going 22-for-34 (.647) and is currently batting .478 for the Comets. He also has scored 12 runs and driven in 14 while batting in the leadoff position.

"I told myself just to be patient and my time would come,'' Weaver said of his early struggles. "The worst thing you can do is start pressing and trying to do too much at the plate. That old adage about letting the game come to you is really true.''

Baseball, said Weaver, is so much different than the other sports he plays. "The quiet time in baseball is great,'' he said. "The entire atmosphere is a little more laid-back. There are no timeouts, and you play until the game is decided, not by a clock. I like that.''

He also relishes the "one-on-one'' competition with the pitcher. "That's unlike almost anything else in sport,'' Weaver said. "You against him, both trying to beat the other.''

A lifelong New York Yankees fan, Weaver has patterned his play after Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. "Just because he is so fundamentally sound and because he does all the right things at the plate and in the field.''

As for the long hours and long days that are a part of his high school life, Weaver said, "I do look forward to the weekends. But even in my spare time I watch SportsCenter and keep track of sports. Except Sundays, which is dedicated to church.''

He also enjoys playing video games with younger bother Monte, himself a burgeoning three-sport athlete at Carthage.

And while he is off to Houghton College in the fall primarily to play soccer and study computer science, he may also try to play club baseball.

"I would really miss baseball if I couldn't play,'' he said. "But I'll just have to wait and see if I have enough time.''