Sometimes when a recruit steps on the campus of a school where he could spend the next four years playing a sport, he knows almost immediately that's where he belongs.
Central pitcher Tyler Ferguson had that feeling during his visit to La Roche College.
The senior southpaw will play for the Redhawks starting next fall, making the decision over Thiel, Mount Aloysius, Juniata, Shippensburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield.
"I had a lot of great offers from different schools," Ferguson said. "Each school that I visited I liked more. But when I went to La Roche, I just had that feeling."
La Roche targeted the lefty last spring when manager Chase Rowe's assistants saw him pitch in the state playoffs.
But a lot of the recruiting started this past fall.
"We saw him last fall in a couple tournaments," Rowe said. "He's a left-handed pitcher with an extremely live arm. He has tons of potential."
That potential could translate into immediate playing time for Ferguson, which was a key factor in the decision-making process.
"They said I'd get playing time, and that stuck out to me," he said.
"He's a guy that can come right in," Rowe said, noting that landing a prospect like Ferguson is a big boost of confidence for the Division III program. "He'll be able to help us out right away."
And even though Ferguson said his commitment "was a really hard decision," he knows that La Roche is the right fit for him.
"When I visited, the coaches were happy to see me. They were so welcoming," Ferguson said. "The players came up to me and shook my hand. I hope to contribute as much as I can there."
"I think it's an outstanding opportunity for him," Central coach A.J. Hoenstine said. "He's put in a lot of work. He gives us a chance to win every time he's on the mound. I think he's going to continue to work hard and get a lot better."
