ROGERS -- Logan Easley formed relationships with Todd Butler and Brian Walker while attending baseball camps at Arkansas. It was those relationships that led the Rogers Heritage senior to follow those two to another perennial college baseball power.
Easley signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Wichita State at a ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
Easley also had offers from Central Arkansas, Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock, but when he visited Wichita State he loved the direction Butler and Walker wanted to go with the program.
"I had been going to camps at Arkansas since I was real little," said Easley, who verbally committed to Wichita State almost a year ago to the day. "I got to know Brian Walker and Todd Butler real well and I liked how they did things. When I went up there to visit they had a really good plan. I really like what they were going to do with the program. I'm really excited about it. It's got me motivated. I've got a chance to get some time in as a freshman."
Easley said he's being signed as a middle infielder, but will also get a chance to show what he can do on the mound. He's played shortstop and second base at times for Heritage and was a conference starter on the mound last season.
Heritage coach Mitch Cameron said Easley's work ethic is a huge strength.
"You see him all the time, he loves the game," Cameron said. "He plays 24/7 whether it's with us, playing travel ball, hitting lessons. He loves to hit. He loves to do those things. He puts in the work he needs to, to get to that next level and be successful."
Easley said he's using a personal trainer and nutritionist to help him add weight and strength. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder said he's also made adjustments in his swing and on the mound.
"I've worked on a few things widening my stance a little bit and getting a little more of a leg kick," Easley said. "It's getting my legs more involved in my swing and helping power more, squaring up more balls."
Brittney Dean also signed to play softball at the University of the Ozarks. The senior has hit .400 or better each of the last three seasons and earned all-state honors a junior.
Heritage softball coach Tiffany Taylor said Dean is a strong all-around player, but she's worked hard on little things to improve.
"Defensively, she's always had a really great read on the ball in the outfield," Taylor said. "She's got a super strong arm. The strongest arm we've had in the outfield. Now what we're working on is get it and get rid of it. That's a minor thing. At the plate, we're working on the timing when she moves through the ball. We're working on that so she has more of her weight behind the ball when she swings."
Sports on 11/10/2016