POLAND - By summer’s end, the 11th-rated 2021 catcher in Ohio, Ian Francis, knew he did not have to go far to reach his future home.

“I’ve always wanted to play for my hometown team,” noted the Cardinal Mooney senior, who had also been talking with Malone, Seton Hill, Findlay, Akron and Ohio U. “YSU checked all the boxes so I decided to commit.

Recent improvement has been vital for the 86th-ranked senior in the state.

“I improved a lot with my hitting and defense,” Francis related. “I’ve always been a defensive guy, but I hit a growth spurt my junior year.”

The ability to see progress has proved beneficial in the eyes of the 6-0 170-pounder, who had the second best catching velo at 77 and fourth best pop time of 1.94 at the Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games in July

“I went to two PBRs and I like how they get your numbers out there and you can compare yourself to strive to get better,” Francis explained. “My arm was 75 the first time (Warhawks Scout Day in February) and I knew I could throw harder. I really worked to develop my arm so when I went to the Top Prospect Games it would increase.

“PBR lets you know where you need to improve and that has been a huge help. Credit goes to the Warhawks for setting me up with PBR.”

Youngstown State is impressed with the player Francis has become.

“They like how I am behind the plate, how I frame and how I throw,” Francis noted. “They said I have a strong arm.”

More improvement is in the plans.

“I want to put on weight but still maintain my skill and agility,” Francis pointed out. “I also want to develop more offense.”

Eric Cornell is helping in that aspect of his game.

“He’s helped me a lot with my hitting,” explained Francis, who also gave credit to summer coaches Adrian Abrahamowicz and Phil Brua with aiding the cause. “He’s helping me get ready for the next level.”

The desire to play college baseball has been a dream for Francis.

“Whether it’s driving two hours to play for Lake Erie or practicing three days a week, it’s something I love and take pride in doing,” Francis said of baseball.

That adoration can be helpful come time to play in the Horizon League.

“Being a catcher, your job is to be the anchor on the field,” Francis said. “You need to bring leadership, bring your team together and help them win some ball games.”

The opportunity to do that near home adds to the enjoyment.

“I really like the coaching staff there and really like that they want me to be there,” Francis noted. “I love it in Youngstown. Being able to play for my hometown team makes it more than baseball. It’s something Youngstown can be proud of and I want to make them proud.”

Admittedly, the recruiting process was “very different” than expected for Francis, who carries a 3.95 GPA and plans to major at business.

“I figured there’d be a lot of guys coming to games and watching me but it ended up being a lot of video and personal opinions of my coaches,” Franis explained. “Having coaches that reach out and say I’m a guy who can be at the next level, I really thank them for that.”

The realization of being a Division I college commit, however, will not change Francis.

“The first thing I did after committing was I celebrated with family, but then I went out and hit off the tee,” Francis concluded. “I’m a competitor and this only pushes me to want to be better. It’s what I always do ... work, work, work.”