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Grand View will have three students, Evan Decovich, Sr. first baseman and pitcher, Ryan Curtis, Jr. infield and outfielder, and Eric Winter, So. pitcher, competing in different NCAA Collegiate Baseball Leagues this summer.

“You get to feel what it’s like to play professionally without playing professionally, and these college kids want to experience that,” Assistant Coach Doug Brinker said. “These three are going to do fantastic. They are going to be great additions to the teams rosters.

 

Evan Decovich

Evan Decovich is planning on playing in the Prospect League for the second time this summer. Brinker explained that this is one of the top five leagues in the nation, and in this league there are 13 teams that travel across seven different states- New York, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Missouri.

Decovich was picked to play as a pitcher and first baseman, which according to Brinker, “is pretty rare, most coaches don’t pick a player for two positions, but they wanted him for both.”

Ryan Curtis

Ryan Curtis will go to Springfield, Missouri, to play for the Ozark Generals of the MINK league, a league with teams spread across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.

“The manager of the Ozark Generals was really adamant that I come play for his team. He wanted me really badly,” Curtis said.

Curtis was originally going to play for the Generals last summer but injured his knee during the first round of the national tournament.

Curtis said that the manger of the Generals was understanding. “He told me to get healthy and he wanted me to come play this summer.”

Curtis considers himself to be a utility player, but he has mostly played outfield for Grand View.

“I might get an opportunity to play infield and outfield for the Ozark Generals, but either way it’s just a great opportunity to play baseball,” Curtis said.

Curtis is excited to have a chance to show off his skills at the next level and he hopes to continue moving up the ranks.

“I would like to play baseball as long as I possibly can,” Curtis said. “Hopefully it can open the door and maybe a pro club will pick me up.”

 

Eric Winter

Eric Winter will join the Liberty Monarchs of the Mid-Plains Collegiate League in Liberty, Missouri, this summer. Winter said the coaches are constantly keeping in touch with him.

“They seem enthusiastic. They text me almost everyday,” Winter said.

This is not Winter’s first tip to play for a semi-pro team; last year he spent time with a team in Kansas.

“It’s really exciting to know that there are people out there that want you,” he said. “It feels good inside and shows that hard work can pay off.”

Winter also said the thing he is looking forward to most is playing baseball every day.

“It’s awesome because a lot of the semi-pro teams draw in a couple thousand fans,” Winter said. “It’s fun to have the spotlight on you. You get to play under the lights, on really nice fields, and thousands of people are cheering for you.”

Winter is also hoping that this leads to a shot with a professional team.

“Obviously playing semi-pro as a freshman and sophomore helps a lot,” Winter said. “I hope one day that I could get drafted, but if not I’m just going to leave with no regrets.”