Kyle McGuire is on a roll - and he wants to keep it that way.

The Cranberry Township resident and North Catholic High School graduate recently accepted a baseball scholarship to Cleveland State University.

The left fielder-pitcher was weighing offers from Waynesburg, California (Pa.), Seton Hill and La Roche before Cleveland State entered the picture.

"I was hopeful of a chance to play Division I," McGuire said. "I grew up in the Cleveland area, too, so it's a chance to go back home."

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound McGuire has aunts, uncles and grandparents living in Cleveland. His family moved to Cranberry 10 years ago and he played Little League, Pony League and Colt League baseball there.

A three-year starter at North Catholic, McGuire carried a career batting average of above .400 in high school. After batting .432 his junior year, McGuire was team captain as a senior, when he batted .426 and led the Trojans to the WPIAL Class AA title this spring.

Seeded 11th in the tournament, North Catholic (18-10) became the lowest seeded team ever to win a WPIAL baseball crown. It was the Trojans' first baseball title since 1995. They also advanced to the third round of the state tournament, the furthest the program ever has advanced.

"A lot of good things have been happening so far," McGuire said.

North Catholic assistant coach Frank Orga sees no reason for that to change.

"Kyle will do very well there," Orga said of Cleveland State. "He has tremendous hand speed as a hitter and he's a consistent hitter.

"He hits the curve and fastball well. As he gets bigger and stronger, his home runs will increase."

McGuire also was a two-year starter in basketball at North Catholic.

"He never really had a chance to get into weight training for baseball," Orga said. "That will change now."

McGuire is one of three North Catholic players moving on to college baseball. Hugh Mulvey is headed to Wheeling (W.Va.) Jesuit and Matt Needer is going to La Roche.

McGuire is the lone Division I recruit from the Trojans this year. Also a serviceable pitcher - he was 2-1 with a 2.74 earned run average, 12 strikeouts and four walks in 17 innings this spring - he could see some relief duty at Cleveland State.

"They basically recruited me for my bat," McGuire said. "I'm an extra-base hitter and Coach (Jay) Murphy told me they're not too deep in the outfield right now.

"If I do well in fall ball, I have a chance to play right away. But I know I'm only a freshman, and if I have to wait my turn, I won't be too disappointed."

McGuire had eight doubles, a triple and a home run among his 23 regular-season hits last year. He batted .430 during the post-season, adding two homers and a triple.

His 16 RBI led the Trojans last season.

Cleveland State finished 14-36 last spring, 5-15 in Horizon League play. The Vikings reached the Horizon League championship game in 2004.

Murphy had won 160 games in his first eight seasons at Cleveland State before the 2005 campaign. The Vikings play the likes of Ohio State, Purdue and Pitt during the regular campaign.

"I want to graduate from Cleveland State and continue making strides as a player," McGuire said. "My goal is to play professional baseball some day."

McGuire will major in sports management.