Butler senior Kyle Weitzel, center, flanked by parents Kim and Brian Weitzel, signs a letter of intent to continue his academic and baseball career at Grove City College. His brother, Karter, and Butler baseball coach Cody Herald, standing at right, were also on hand for the signing.

BUTLER TWP — Kyle Weitzel had to wait his turn at Butler this year.

He's hoping he doesn't have to be so patient at Grove City College next year.

The Golden Tornado senior will be a first-year starter in varsity baseball this spring, most likely in center field. He hit .330 for the junior varsity last season.

“Kyle's just one of those guys who got stuck behind a big senior class,” Butler baseball coach Cody Herald said. “We had 15 seniors last year. Nine of them will be playing college baseball ... There was just nowhere to put him.”

There is now.

“This is my one year of varsity ball and I want to make it count,” Weitzel said. “I want to be one of the leaders on the team, help us make the playoffs.”

Then he wants to play early — and often — at Grove City. Weitzel considered Allegheny, Thiel and Slippery Rock before opting for the Wolverines.

He carries a 3.9 grade point average at Butler and plans to major in accounting.

“My goal is to get on the field during my freshman year and play for all four years,” Weitzel said.

Matt Royer is in his third full season as baseball coach at Grove City. He was interim head coach in 2016, when he led the Wolverines to a school-record 27 wins.

Grove City was 19-19 in 2017 and 15-18 last season. The team has a number of young outfielders on the roster this year, including sophomore Jesse Clary of Cranberry Township.

“Grove City is an excellent choice for him,” Herald said of Weitzel.”He's an intelligent kid and the academics will fit him well.

“He's a quiet kid, but he runs like a deer. He can go get the ball in the outfield. Kyle will cover a lot of ground out there.”

Herald described Weitzel as “a tough out at the plate. He's hard to strike out because he knows the zone and doesn't swing at bad pitches.”

Weitzel played basketball until ninth grade and played soccer as well. But baseball is his main game.

He's played first baseball and pitched along with playing the outfield.

“I've been playing ball since I was 5,” Weitzel said. “I'm anxious to show what I can do.”