<p>Former Air Force Academy Baseball Star Gets Extension To Continue Playing (Macon Telegraph)</p>
<p>Air Force Academy baseball star gets extension
By Gene Rector - <a href="mailto:grector@macon.com">grector@macon.com</a></p>
<p>ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE –
The date for a baseball-playing second lieutenant to report to duty at Robins Air Force Base has been extended, although no decision has been made on his request for an active duty commitment waiver.</p>
<p>Robins spokesman George Jozens said Karl Bolt has been given until Sept. 5 to assume duties with the 78th Logistics Readiness Squadron on base. That will allow Bolt, who graduated from the Air Force Academy this spring, the chance to complete his initial professional season with the Philadelphia Phillies rookie league affiliate in Clearwater, Fla., which ends Aug. 27. His initial Robins report date was Aug. 4.</p>
<p>Bolt, drafted in the 15th round by the National League club, has asked Air Force Secretary Michael Wynn to waive or modify his commitment to permit continuation of his pro baseball ambitions.</p>
<p>Academy graduates generally must complete five years, although some football players have received waivers to serve two years on active duty and six years in the reserves.</p>
<p>The Stockton, Calif., native has said the two-year program will not work for baseball. “If you take two years off, you’re pretty much done from a skills standpoint,” Bolt told The Telegraph during a June interview. “Plus, by then I’d be 23 and interest from major league baseball will be gone. That’s why I’m trying to get an exception to policy.”</p>
<p>The power-hitting first baseman, who turns 22 on Aug. 16, has said he is willing to fulfill his military commitment in a number of ways - during the offseason, after he finishes his pro baseball career or an extended time in the reserves.</p>
<p>Capt. Tom Wenz, an Air Force spokesman at the Pentagon, said there was no timeline for a final decision.</p>
<p>“The extension just means he’ll report to Robins with a negative leave balance,” Wenz added. Bolt’s original Aug. 4 report date coincided with the 60 days of leave normally given Academy cadets following graduation.</p>
<p>The former All-Mountain West Conference first-teamer declined to comment Thursday on the extension.</p>
<p>“I’ve been instructed by the Air Force not to give any information as to what’s going on because it’s not completed yet,” he said during a telephone interview. “Nothing’s official yet.”</p>
<p>The 6-foot-2-inch, 215 pound ballplayer has had mixed success during his initial season, according to the Baseball America Web site - posting a .222 batting average through 33 games but with seven homers, 20 runs batted in and a slugging percentage of .484.</p>
<p>He said the numbers don’t reflect his accomplishments on the field.</p>
<p>“On paper it looks like I’m struggling,” Bolt conceded, “but I’m really hitting the ball pretty well. Last week I lined out seven or eight times and hit the ball to the warning track a couple of times. I’ve just had an unlucky streak. I’ve been hitting the ball great.”</p>
<p>Statistics are not that important in rookie ball, he insisted.</p>
<p>“I’ve been going day to day just working on stuff,” Bolt said. “That’s what rookie league is all about - getting used to playing every day, understanding your swing, understanding what you have to do as a player to be successful and move up.”</p>
<p>To contact writer Gene Rector, call 923-3109, extension 239.</p>