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Grant Wolfe signs with Southwest Baptist
By Eric Wade
Daily Mail Sports Editor
The fifth of eight members of the winningest senior class in Nevada High School baseball history announced his plans to continue his playing career at the college level Friday.
Throughout his high school career, Grant Wolfe has made a name for himself as not only a valuable leader, but a respected teammate on a number of Nevada High School sports teams. Friday afternoon, in front of family, friends and members of the Nevada High School baseball and basketball coaching staffs, he made official his intention to continue his baseball playing career at Southwest Baptist University.
During his tenure at Nevada High School, Tigers head baseball coach Danny Penn has had nothing but positive things to say about the pitcher and infielder who played an integral role in the breaking or tying of the Tigers baseball program's single-season wins record in each of the last three seasons. As not only a talented infielder, but also one of the team's best pitchers, Wolfe played a significant role in many of those wins throughout his career, in one way or another.
As a hitter, Wolfe entered the final game of the 2014 regular season with a .320 batting average, 13 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 14 walks and seven strikeouts before finishing the season with a one-out double in the seventh inning of Nevada's 2-1 upset loss to Warrensburg in the Class 4, District 12 Tournament semifinals. Last season, he hit .338 with 17 RBIs, 14 runs scored, 11 walks and three strikeouts and in 2012, he finished with a .328 batting average, 10 RBIs, 23 runs scored, 10 strikeouts and 10 walks.
As a pitcher, Wolfe finished his senior season with a 3-2 record, a 5.30 ERA, 29 strikeouts and 15 walks in 30 1/3 innings pitched. He also finished last season 3-2 with a 5.53 ERA, 38 walks and 31 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings and in 2012, he went 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA, 13 strikeouts in 11 innings of work.
That body of work got the attention of head coach Chris Martin and the rest of the coaching staff at SBU, who ultimately offered Wolfe a spot on the Bearcats' roster. At a ceremony that was held in the library at Nevada High School, Wolfe made his plans to accept that offer official when he signed a letter of intent to join Martin's roster next year.
Wolfe said there were a few factors that led him to accept that offer, the most significant of which was the chance to reunite with his brother, Ross.
"I really like the coaching staff," Grant said. "Coach Martin is a great guy and he's done a good job of turning the program around. Probably, the biggest thing is an opportunity to play with my brother for one year."
Ross Wolfe has been playing for the Bearcats baseball team since the 2011 season and has made a name for himself as an infielder on Martin's squad.
Grant said his intended major at Southwest Baptist is one he chose to keep himself in the baseball world, even after his playing career comes to an end. That major, he said, is going to be sports management with an emphasis in sports administration and business, which could land him on the administrative side of the game.
"I eventually want to get to the front office of a professional baseball team," he said. "I'd like to be the president of baseball operations, eventually."
Though the excitement for taking the next step in his career is a the forefront of Grant's mind, now, he said there will be some challenges associated with leaving high school. The most significant of those will be the simple fact that he will no longer be playing alongside his best friends.
"Probably, playing with my teammates, my best friends," he said. "I've played with them since I was 8 years old on the A's and it will just be really different, not taking the field with them for the first time in 10 years."
The Southwest Baptist Bearcats finished the 2014 season with an overall record of 29-24, dropping their final two games in the MIAA Tournament May 3.