[Stardust]

Austin Baxter and Kody Ross were looking for the same thing, and they found it at the same place.

A visit to Shawnee State was all it took to convince both Baxter, a Danville pitcher, and Ross, a Boyle County infielder, that that was where they wanted to play college baseball. Both local players have committed to the Portsmouth, Ohio, school, and they plan to sign in separate ceremonies today at their respective high schools.

The two worked out for a Shawnee State coach in Danville just before Christmas, and both were invited to visit the school.


Ross went first early last month, and he said he was impressed.

“They’ve got good facilities, and it’s a good fit for me and my family,” Ross said. “I like it up there, and it’s close to home and a really good program.”

Baxter visited the school Jan. 28, and he said he also liked what he saw.

“I liked the overall interaction with the players, the coaching staff was really nice, and it was really family-oriented,” Baxter said. “Going away from home and my family, I wanted to go somewhere that would feel like family, and the coach at Shawnee State did that best for me.”

Baxter said he considered a handful of schools in the region and ultimately chose Shawnee State over Lincoln Memorial and St. Joseph’s (Ind.) after returning from his weekend visit. Ross said he picked Shawnee State over Georgetown, Transylvania and Ashland.

Ross was Boyle’s leading hitter last season at .443 with team highs of 58 hits in 131 at-bats, 41 runs and 17 stolen bases. He also had four home runs and 30 RBIs. He made the Advocate-Messenger’s All-Area team as a second baseman in 2010 and as a shortstop after moving to that position in 2011.

“They’re recruiting me as a shortstop, but they said they’d find me a place to play because they like how I can hit,” he said.

Baxter received honorable mention on the All-Area team after going 7-3 on the mound, including a win in the 45th District Tournament title game.

They will join a program that has enjoyed success during a period of transition. Shawnee State won the 2010 American Mideast Conference championship, then moved to the Mid-South Conference and won that league’s tournament in 2011, earning a bid to the NAIA national tournament last season. The Bears are picked second in the MSC this season.

Both Baxter and Ross said picking a winner was important to them.

“At Danville we’ve been winning, and I was kind of looking for a school that did the same thing,” Baxter said.

Both players said they’re happy to have this important decision behind them before their senior seasons begin, each saying it felt like a weight was lifted off their shoulders.

“I feel relieved, so I can have fun and go out and play and help our team be the best we can be,” Ross said.

“Being recruited, you think about so many different things. Now that that’s done, it’s a big relief and I don't have worry about that anymore,” Baxter added.

Baxter and Ross play on the same summer team, and although they reached their decisions separately, both said they’re glad to be going to an unfamiliar place together. They said they might even be roommates.

“It’s actually nice to know he’s in the mix and he’s going there as well,” Baxter said.

Both players are looking forward to their final high school seasons, but they’re also thinking ahead to what they need to do to be ready to play at the next level.

“It’s probably going to be a big jump from high school pitching to college pitching. I’m probably going to need to get my timing down better, and work on my fielding more,” Ross said.

“I’ll just be working on mechanics, working on things I’ve worked on (for years),” Baxter said. “I want to increase my velocity a little bit, which I’ve done a little bit this offseason.”

[Stardust]

[Image: http://media.trb.com/media/alternatethum...071605.jpg]

[Aldric Perfidus]

Outstanding! Now these young men can focus on 2012 baseball with no distractions. Goodluck men and congrats.