The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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April 17, 2012

Liberal's Selvey signs with Jefferson College

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer

LIBERAL, Mo. — Colten Selvey, who helped Liberal High School finish runner-up in MSHSAA Class 1 baseball last spring, will continue his career at Jefferson College of Hillsboro, Mo.

A signing ceremony was held for the 6-foot, 200-pound senior right-hander on Monday.

Liberal coach Chris Dunlap said Selvey, when not pitching, plays shortstop or third base for the Bulldogs.

“He’s our No. 3 hitter, too, but Jefferson College (the Vikings) recruited him as a pitcher,” Dunlap said.

“We’ve opened this season 4-4 (entering Monday’s game against Diamond,” Dunlap said. “Colten is 2-1, I believe, with a 0.29 earned run average. I’d estimate he has 65 strikeouts in 32 innings.”

Selvey helped the Bulldogs to a 20-5 record last season. They tied College Heights Christian and Diamond for the Spring River Valley Conference title in 2011 after winning it outright in 2010.

Liberal lost 7-6 to LaPlata in the 2011 Class 1 championship contest at Springfield. Selvey, as a sophomore, helped Liberal reach the quarterfinals in Class 1 before losing to eventual champion Concordia.

Jefferson College, in its sixth season under Sam Carel, is 32-7 with six wins in a row and a No. 6 ranking in the NJCAA.

Former Liberal coach Danny Powers, now at Cassville, apparently first told Jefferson’s Pat Evers, entering his third season as Carel’s recruiting coordinator/pitching coach, about Selvey.

Powers, the former NCAA Division II All-American from Carl Junction, and Evers are good friends and were teammates at the University of Central Missouri.

Dunlap said Selvey also was seen at a University of Missouri Showcase at Columbia.

Selvey said his best game through the Bulldogs’ .500 start was a no-decision effort against Northeast of Arma in its tournament. Selvey toiled nine innings — Liberal won 1-0 in 11 — didn’t allow a hit and struck out 19.

A torn right ACL immediately after the prep year prevented Selvey from playing with Nevada in the 2011 American Legion season.

Selvey said playing at Jefferson will be a challenge. The Vikings were 43-22 overall last season and reached the NJCAA World Series. They were Region XVI champions for the fifth time.

“I need to keep working. There is always room for improvement,” Selvey said.

“I believe my strength as a pitcher is having the ability to place my pitches — control,” Selvey said.

Colten, who’s interested in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Jefferson, is the son of Liberal graduates Lisa and Brant Selvey.

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