GALION — It’s a proud moment for a high school baseball program to have a player commit to participate at the college level.
For three to do it in the same year takes it to another level.
Galion Tigers seniors Braxton Prosser, Max Albert and Allen Carver did just that simultaneously on Monday. According to Tigers coach Ken Fagan, they’re products of the system, battle tested in the rugged Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.
“We play in a tough league,” Fagan said. “Without those three, it would be a lot tougher. It’s a really cool day — cool day for Galion sports, cool day for those three. In my four years here, that will be seven guys we’ve sent to play college baseball. As a staff, we’re really proud of that.”
Prosser signed with Division I Youngstown State, Albert committed to DII Ashland and Carver will play at DII Lake Erie College.
“I had a few other small D-ones, Findlay, Heidelberg — all those DII and DIII, Ashland, Lake Erie,” Prosser said of the recruiting process. “I respect all those schools. I loved all my visits. They’re great schools, but Youngstown State just felt like home. It felt right.”
The Penguins play in the 11-team Horizon League, which will no doubt remind Prosser of his battles in the MOAC.
“They’re pretty good. They had a little off year this year,” Prosser said. “They’re young.”
Prosser plans to major in business and would like to return to Galion to help his hometown’s sports programs.
A key factor in Albert’s choosing Ashland was its proximity to Galion.
“That was a big point in my decision — being close to home,” Albert said. “We had a couple of tournaments down in Georgia where we were gone for like two weeks. I got homesick so quick.”
The Eagles play in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and currently stand at 24-8 on the season. Albert will offer speed, among other things, to the Ashland program as he and Prosser are co-leaders in the MOAC with 17 stolen bases each. Albert also leads the Tigers with 26 runs scored.
Albert will major in business management at Ashland.
Carver hopes to remain in his comfort zone at third base at Lake Erie College but realizes it won’t be easy. The Storm also plays in the G-MAC.
“I’m just going to ease my way into it. I’m not going to take too big of step into it,” Carver said humbly. “I’ll train a lot still. I’ll go in with a small head knowing I’m not the greatest.”
Carver would like to be a teacher after college, majoring in education.
“I had one (other) college looking at me,” Carver said. “But I really like Lake Erie. I took a little visit and fell in love with the school.”
Fagan is grateful for the contributions of his trio and is confident of their future success. As seniors they have led Galion to a 15-6 record so far this year, second in the MOAC at 8-5, and a No. 1 seed in the Division IV district tournament.
“Those three came in as freshmen and we kind of knew we had something special with them,” Fagan said. “They’ve started every game of their high school careers. They’re just three outstanding young men.”