CANFIELD - A program on the rise is just one of the reasons that Brandon Mikos was attracted to Youngstown State.

“I wanted to stay closer to home,” the South Range senior explained about his decision to make a commitment to YSU. “It’s going to be nice to be just 10-20 minutes away. Plus, I like what they’re doing with the program. They had a great year this year.”

For the first time since 2005, Youngstown State had a winning record with fifth-year head coach Dan Bertolini, a Youngstown native, leading the Penguins to a 32-24 season mark.

“I started talking with them last summer,” the 16th-rated 2021 right-handed pitcher in Ohio reflected. “They’d seen me play before, and my summer coach did a good job getting video out to them. Over the winter we were still having some conversation. Then in the spring it really took off.”

A final high school season found Mikos showing improvement while helping South Range advance to the Division III regional finals.

“I had a big velo jump from last winter to this past winter,” noted Mikos, whose fastball went from topping at 83 to 88 in a year’s time. “I also improved a lot mentally. You’ve got to take it one pitch at a time, just worry about the next batter and let the little things go by.”

Still, there were admittedly some nerves with senior year at South Range getting closer to the end.

“There were just a couple that wanted me to come visit,” Mikos said in reference to Notre Dame College, Fairmont State and a few other D-II and D-III programs. “But once I started playing in the spring I began to think I’ll find my home. I settled down and stopped worrying. I thought, ‘you're going to commit and there will be a big relief.’ ”

After all, interest from Youngstown State persisted.

“They like how I can control my pitches and how I have more than one pitch that I can spot up,” Mikos pointed out.

The idea of playing at the next level developed when Mikos was approaching his teen years.

“I was a big basketball guy when I was really young,” Mikos said. “Around age 12 is when I started to think college baseball was something I wanted to do with how well I was playing.”

It became more realistic upon reaching high school.

“My first year of high school I threw well as an underclassmen and then my junior year summer I continued playing well,” Mikos noted. “It was then I began to think that this was going to become a reality.”

Pitching coach Matt DeSalvo and Release coach Matt Rosinski were two that played big roles in making it happen according to the 55th-ranked senior in the state.

“My teammates and parents were also big with all the support they gave me,” Mikos related. “And my (South Range) catcher Trey Pancake, I couldn’t do it without him.”

Mikos, who carries a 3.9 GPA and plans to major in business administration, believes he can be a big part of helping Youngstown State continue the winning ways that took off this spring in the Horizon League program.

“I throw outs,” Mikos said. “Whether it’s your first year or you’ve been around, you just have to try not to do too much. Be willing to do what you’re needed to do.”

For now, the focus is on getting prepared for his first year of college.

“I’m hoping to put on some pounds to fill out,” pointed out the 6-4 195-pounder. “Maybe I can gain three or four miles an hour. That will get me where I want to be.”

As it turns out, Mikos is where he wants to be for school - at Youngstown State ... not far from home.