Blakely Headed South To Play For Auburn

Werner Blakely SS / 3B / Detroit Edison, MI / 2020

DETROIT - When Werner Blakely was a freshman, the dream to play college baseball in the south began.

While an opportunity came early with an offer from Auburn that year, the left-handed hitting shortstop stayed patient.

“I began talking to Auburn my freshman year,” noted Blakely, now a junior at Edison Public School Academy. “They saw me at a WWBA tourney and offered me. I didn’t know much about the school but I learned about it and the coaching staff they have there.

“Come sophomore year they came to see me at a WWBA every game to see if I was getting stronger and faster. We talked via phone and our relationship began to grow. Then they saw me at the Future Games and with my travel ball team in Alabama. I went there on a visit (two weekends ago) and they offered a scholarship amount that I couldn’t refuse. They laid out the red carpet treatment for sure.”

The second-ranked player in the state’s 2020 class had already visited Ohio State, Missouri and Michigan while Kentucky and Texas were others in the mix with offers to Blakely. But the 6-3 170-pounder felt Auburn was the perfect fit.

“What made Aubrun different from other schools is some of them felt forced, things didn’t flow,” Blakely explained. “With Auburn, they offered early and I felt the relationship grow. They teach how it’s family-oriented with no problems. The camaraderie is good and their coaches push players to become better every day. That’s something I need and wanted.”

There was no hestiance in Blakely making the decision at the outset of junior year.

“I might get a good offer somewhere else but it’s not going to be the same coaching staff and environment Auburn laid out,” Blakely noted. “I feel very fortunate.”