Verbal Commitments 2011

[shock10]

Tyler Baker Utility Player Catcher middle infielder or outfield just about anywhere. 5' 9" 165 lbs. Hits left and throws right :clap: :clap: :clap:

http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/20/1411073/baker-is-first-wsu-commit-for.html

[WstateU]

Re: Verbal Commitments 2011

Tyler Baker Utility Player Catcher middle infielder or outfield just about anywhere. 5' 9" 165 lbs. Hits left and throws right :clap: :clap: :clap:

However, can he hit a...

[/img]

? :D

[Ashockalypse]

Can he hit a what? A major league curve ball? Probably not. But he might be able to hit a D-1 Curveball!

[mattdalt]

Is that picture a curveball, or more likely a screwball? check the arm :)

[WSUwatcher]

Stop

Hold on there, Wstate -- that's Shirley's line you're trying to sneak by us. In any case, I think matt may be right. The arm sure looks like it was a screwball.

[Ta town]

add knight from maize to the list

http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/22/1414712/maize-outfielder-choose-wichita.html

[DJShocker10]

I would suggest making it out so some Maize games next season to watch him play. He has nice pop from the left side and has a very quick release from the outfield.

[WSUwatcher]

Thomas?

Okay, here's a question for the anti-Jim Thomas gang: these two commits are both 5-9. What's up with that -- does Thomas recruit little guys because he's short himself?

Seriously, though, how many little guys are big boppers? A guy like Mark Standiford comes along once in many, many years, and as we've discussed before, if the Shocks are going to step up offensively, it would be nice to see more guys who can mash.

Hopefully Coy and Springer and maybe Schebler can help in that regard next year, and maybe Chris O'Brien will get there too, or even Ryan Hege, who has good size. But the past few years there have been way more table setters (and not enough of them, frankly) than table cleaners. For some reason, all the big guys are pitchers.

[JohnnieBallgame]

I had been worried that many of the best local players were looking elsewhere first. I am much less worried now.

I am very happy with both Knight and Kerans from Maize. Knight recently made the Area Code team. I am not familiar with Baker, but I don't care what they look like getting off the bus if they can play the game!

Kerans was hidden in the shadow of Garret Gould as a junior. His velocity increased greatly between his junior and senior seasons at Maize yet he got very little publicity or credit. He opened eyes late in the year pitching in the low 90's at Goddard and against Lawrence Free State. Again this summer I understand he was at 92-93 mph in Nebraska into the 5th inning.

Several coaches have told me that these guys (Kerans & Knight) are 2 of the "hardest working" athletes they have ever been around and that when you see one of them usually you see the other, pushing each other to get better.

Don't be surprised if you see another Maize player or 2 end up at WSU in the next couple of years. There are 3 more IMHO Division 1 players at Maize available next year, and several more in the next 2 classes. If the timing and fit is right we could start to see more of a local flavor.

I haven't tallied up the metro Wichita area or in-state players, but I like the look of a roster dotted with talented local kids!

Here's wishing them all the best as Shockers! :wsu_posters:

[NCAABound]

Looks like we added another one...

http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/26/1419649/wichita-state-baseball-gets-commitment.html

[SPEShockAlum]

Gotta' love the Nebraska kids heading south. A co-worker of mine has his son and a teammate (both rising juniors at Creighton Prep) headed to a camp at WSU either this weekend or next. I hope it's a productive visit/experience from both sides of the situation.

[NCAABound]

Another Nebraskan commits:

http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/30/1425718/omaha-pitcher-commits-to-wichita.html

"Ladwig went 8-1 with a 2.79 ERA as a junior last season. He was 8-1 with a 1.04 ERA for his legion team this summer.

He was named to the Lincoln Journal Star Super State team. Ryan said Ladwig (6-foot-5, 180 pounds) also had offers from Nebraska and Kansas State and interest from Creighton."

[shox1989]

Another Nebraskan commits:

http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/30/1425718/omaha-pitcher-commits-to-wichita.html

"Ladwig went 8-1 with a 2.79 ERA as a junior last season. He was 8-1 with a 1.04 ERA for his legion team this summer.

He was named to the Lincoln Journal Star Super State team. Ryan said Ladwig (6-foot-5, 180 pounds) also had offers from Nebraska and Kansas State and interest from Creighton."

I am getting more and more excited about baseball season. This is great news!

[SPEShockAlum]

And deal Gillaspie in...

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100803/HIGHSCHOOLS/708039835

[Ta town]

AWESOME!