CLARION — Kane McCall wasn’t happy being so far away from home.

It didn’t help that he wasn’t playing baseball, either. Interested in a transfer from California (Pa.) University, McCall called Clarion coach Mike Brown wanting to know if the door was still open.

Brown recruited McCall heavily coming out of high school. What McCall found was the door was never closed.

“He called and said he was transferring to Clarion and wanted to know if the offer was still good,” Brown said. “I told him when he went to Cal I still wanted him to pitch for us.”

McCall, a 2012 Union graduate, has rewarded Brown’s faith. Though Clarion is off to a 3-9 start, McCall is 3-0 on the mound with a 1.89 ERA.

Of all the wins, the first was the most satisfying. McCall made his first appearance March 9, entering with the Golden Eagles trailing Cal 3-0 in the fourth inning. McCall threw five scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits.

Clarion’s bat woke up and the Golden Eagles beat the Vulcans for the first time since 2013, 4-3. McCall was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division pitcher of the week.

“It felt good,” McCall said. “It was fun that it was against them, too. I liked it.”

Though McCall doesn’t hold any ill will toward Cal — making the move was strictly a personal decision.

“I tried out and practiced with them all year,” McCall said. “Right before the season they told me I was going to redshirt and not play any games. Toward the end of the year, I decided I didn’t like it there and wanted to come home.”

Since making his first appearance, the 6-foot-1, 165-pound right-hander has shifted into a role as a starting pitcher. McCall also pitched seven innings and earned wins against East Stroudsburg on March 14 and Mercyhurst Saturday.

He’s done it with a mix of a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. Now he’s focused on trying to stick with those pitches and work the inside of the plate more.

McCall isn’t overpowering, with seven strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. What he does have, according to Brown, is a high level of intensity.

“He was impressive in the fall and his work ethic is phenomenal,” Brown said. “He goes after it every day, whether it be throwing the football, doing a short pen day or whatever assignment we have for him. He’s turning himself into a nice college pitcher.”

Playing baseball was always big with his family. Kane’s older sister, Kara, played baseball for Union and was also a pitcher.

His dad coached Kane throughout high school and helped him develop.

“My friends used to joke with me that she was better than me,” Kane McCall said. “My dad’s the one that got us both interested.”

McCall feels like he fits in.

The objective now is to help Clarion make waves.

Just like the Golden Eagles did against the Vulcans.

“I was pretty excited,” McCall said. “I think this year we can have a lot more success, we’ve practiced a lot and we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”