The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
54 ■ THE WOLFPACKER That was just a precursor for what he did against Clemson on a Saturday night in the ACC Tournament in Greenville, S.C., his junior year. Even the Tigers' fans were rooting for him by his fifth at-bat. "The baseball just looked like a grapefruit," said Zaun, who was 4 of 5 in the game. "I was just fortunate enough to hit it where they weren't." The San Francisco Giants selected Zaun in the 10th round of the 1988 MLB Draft following his senior season. However, the negotiations got complicated because he had been planning to become a dentist since high school. That goal was going to start earlier than expected. "I needed five hours to actually graduate," Zaun said. "I was tak- ing some classes and starting sum- mer school. The scout came over to the apartment, and my folks drove down. I had been accepted into den- tal school, and I was considered a risk to sign. "I came to the realization that it was time for me to move on with my life. It was hard and a tough decision." Zaun first went home and framed houses for a short time that summer. He then graduated with a degree in chemistry from NC State. "I definitely majored in chemistry so I would have that opportu- nity," Zaun said. "As a kid growing up, I never had any idea playing baseball would help pay for my college education. "In the end, I'm extremely happy with how things played out." Attending dental school also did something else to alter Zaun's life. Instead of traveling all over the country to play minor league baseball, he instead met his future wife, Jennifer, and they've been together for 30 years. "I would have never known her [if I played minor league base- ball]," Zaun said. "We got married in the fall of 1996 and I was out of dental school in four years. That is how things worked out. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me." The Zauns have three daughters, with 21-year-old Murphy at- tending Georgetown, 20-year-old Harper at Virginia and 16-year-old Ryann is a sophomore at The Collegiate School in Richmond, which is the alma mater of a well-known NC State football and baseball player: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. "I told my children that wherever you go to college, I hope you love your university as much as I love mine," Zaun said. "NC State is a special place." Zaun returned to the Richmond area and is living not far from where he grew up in Henrico County. His dental office is four miles from his childhood home. "I'm basically back home," Zaun said. "I'm an only child so I wanted to get back to my parents. I figured if I wasn't in the Richmond area, I'd be in Raleigh. I really enjoyed the city of Raleigh." Zaun's love affair with NC State continues to this day, and he still misses basketball games at Reyn- olds Coliseum. He and his former teammates have a big group text to stay in touch with each other. The continuation from Esposito to Tanner to current coach Elliott Avent has made it easy for the players of different gen- erations to bond over NC State baseball. "The last four or five years, we've organized a reunion where we get together for a golf weekend at Pinehurst," Zaun said. "This year, we went fishing together." Zaun is proud of the success the baseball team has been having, especially reaching the College World Series in 2013. "I'm am kicking myself for not going to Omaha," he said. "My teammates and I helped lay the foundation for what is going on down there now." ■ Zaun (No. 19) ranks second on NC State's all-time lists for career home runs (54) and career slugging percentage (.711), and is fourth in career batting average (.372), fifth in career runs batted in (195) and sixth in career total bases (451). PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS "The scout came over to the apartment, and my folks drove down. I had been accepted into dental school, and I was considered a risk to sign. I came to the realization that it was time for me to move on with my life. It was hard and a tough decision." ■ Zaun