Patterson, Baxter opt for IUP
BUTLER TWP — Coming off a 2-35 season last spring and welcoming a new head coach, Indiana (Pa.) University is looking to renovate its baseball program.
The Crimson Hawks are bringing in a pair of Butler High School athletes to aid in that transformation.
Corner infielder Colin Patterson and shortstop Cooper Baxter recently signed letters of intent to continue their academic and baseball careers at IUP.
“I'm excited for both of them,” Butler baseball coach Josh Forbes said. “They are excellent hitters who bat in the middle of our order.
“Both stand a great shot at getting on the field right away there.”
Patterson hits fourth for the Golden Tornado and batted .356 last spring, collecting seven doubles, three homers and 21 RBI. Baxter hit third in the lineup and had five doubles, three triples and 14 runs scored.
Patterson played summer baseball with the Pittsburgh Spikes, seeing action at third base, first base and left field.
“My eyes have been on IUP for a long time,” Patterson said. “That's the school and program that fit me the best.”
Both Patterson and Baxter are three-sport athletes at Butler. Patterson also plays basketball and golf while Baxter played football and is a prominent wrestler for the Golden Tornado.
Patterson, who also considered Marietta, plans to major in exercise science or nursing.
Baxter, who weighed collegiate offers in all three of his sports, plans to enter the pre-physician assistant program.“This was a difficult process for me because I love all three sports and was open to playing any of the three in college,” Baxter said.He considered Buffalo, West Virginia and Penn State for wrestling, Duquesne for football, Seton Hill, Slippery Rock and Pitt-Johnstown for baseball before deciding on the latter sport with IUP.“I'm very passionate about baseball,” Baxter said. “I feel like that's the sport where I have the highest ceiling, too. I'm looking forward to seeing how well I can do and how far I can go while concentrating on just one sport all year.“I love wrestling and football. I'm going to miss them both. But, realistically, I knew I had to decide on one for college.”Forbes likes the potential of Patterson and Baxter both to become mainstays in IUP's baseball program.“Colin hits with a lot of power, but he's also a very smart hitter,” Forbes said. “He can hit with two strikes on him and he knows how to get on base.“Cooper is an intelligent player. He not only has the physical ability, he has a real head for the game.”Both will be joining another Butler County athlete on the team as Freeport graduate Sean Furlong is a sophomore pitcher with the Crimson Hawks.Patterson said it is coincidental that Baxter and he are going to the same college.“I had no idea Cooper was going there,” he said. “He told me he was considering it, but we both decided separately to go there.“It's going to be fun playing four more years of baseball with him.”Baxter said his biggest goal is to develop as a complete player on the diamond.“This is bittersweet for me, after this year, having to say goodbye to two sports I really love,” he said. “But I'm going to a good school and I'll get a good degree. Hopefully, we'll be able to help build the baseball program back up and get to the (Division II) College World Series.”IUP has not had a winning season since going 22-21-1 in 2015. The Crimson Hawks were 58-126 over the past five years under former Butler BlueSox manager Anthony Rebyanski.Former major league pitcher Steve Kline is the Crimson Hawks' new baseball coach. He appeared in 796 games over 11 big league seasons.Kline has spent the past few years as a pitching coach in the San Francisco Giants organization. He has coached 100 players who have gone on to the major leagues.
