By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Webb City High School baseball standout Patrick Drake has given a verbal commitment to Missouri State University.
Drake, who selected the Bears over Missouri Southern and the University of Kansas, said Tuesday he told Missouri State coach Keith Guttin of the decision on Sunday.
The right-handed Drake, a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, is a shortstop-pitcher at Webb City for Shawn Mayes.
Guttin, of course, has landed a second Drake. Patrick’s brother, Brayden, an All-American this past spring, was a four-year starter at third base for the Bears.
Patrick Drake, also a football quarterback and a basketball guard at Webb City (like Brayden), said he officially visited the Springfield school on Sept. 12.
“I’m comfortable with my decision,” Drake said Tuesday before the start of football practice. “I’m sure. I’m very happy.”
Said Mayes: “I’m happy for him and his parents. It’s something they all wanted. He will be able to focus on baseball in the spring.
“We’ll continue to rely on him heavily as a pitcher as well as a hitter,” Mayes said. “At times, because of our youth, he may have to carry us.”
Drake has hit 10 home runs — the Webb City record is 17 by Mark Baker — in two seasons as a regular and is aiming at Brayden’s dozen.
Drake averaged .378 in 2008 with team-leading totals in homers (6), runs batted in (21), hits (28) and runs scored (26). He was 2-1 with two saves on the mound.
The Class 4 Cardinals finished 14-7 overall in 2008. Drake, as a sophomore, helped Webb City finish 24-6 overall and Class 3 runner-up.
Drake said there were no negatives in the recruiting process that included a home visit from KU coach Ritch Price. Bryce Darnell, Drake’s freshman coach at Webb City, is now at Missouri Southern as head coach to make the decision more difficult.
“It was very tough at first,” Drake said.
Drake said his familiarity with the Missouri State coaches and his brother’s success were factors in going with the NCAA Division I Bears (reigning regular-season Missouri Valley Conference champions).
“I like the coaches and campus as well as the facilities (the Bears’ home field is the Springfield Cardinals’ Hammons Field),” Drake said.
Drake said that Guttin hopes early in his career at Missouri State he can fill a utility role for the Bears.
Drake plans to continue playing for the Midwest Nationals next summer.
