RAVENNA - A long recruiting process all came together in late summer for Adam Beery.

The Rootstown senior is now a commit to Ohio University.

“OU has always been one of my top schools since I started the recruiting process,” Beery noted. “It’s always been in my top three. About a month ago coach (Mitch) Mormann (the recruiting coordinator and pitching coach) reached out and expressed interest. I sent them all of my hitting and pitching videos and he said they really like what they see.”

Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Youngstown State and High Point were among other colleges courting the 67th-rated 2021 in Ohio, but once an offer was made by OU it did not take long for Beery to decide.

“I’d narrowed it down to a few schools, but OU just blew them out of the water,” reflected Beery. “A week after they offered I visited the campus. It was my second time there. Last summer I went to a prospect camp there.”

It was a memorable experience for the 5-11 180-pound left-handed hitting outfielder.

“As soon as I stepped foot on campus it felt like this was home,” Beery said. “What really brought me was the walk from the dorms to the baseball field was only two minutes. It felt like the place I wanted for a college home the next four years or whatever.”

A 3.9 student, plans for Beery are to major in physical therapy at Ohio U.

“Once I reached into the academics there and they had my major, that was a big advantage for them,” Beery explained. “The campus and talking to their coaches, it was just what I wanted.”

The chance to be a two-way player at the Mid-American Conference school admittedly helped in making the decision.

“Early in my career I can come out of the bullpen as a left-handed pitcher and still have the opportunity to earn a spot in the outfield,” Beery noted. “That’s what I was looking for. The more versatility I can have to help the team win the better.”

The 17-year-old understands the formidable task ahead in trying to be a two-way player at the Division I college level.

“My next step from a pitching standpoint is to increase my velocity,” explained Beery, who added that another plus in his game is he has never had arm trouble  “I have above average breaking balls, but what will take my game to the next level pitching wise is to increase my velocity..

“Position-wise I’ve got to get a little bit faster, especially being an outfielder. But I really like the idea of working at both. I’m up to the challenge.”

Beery believes he has the ability to be a major contributor - wherever he plays - once arriving at the OU campus located three hours from home.

“On the field I have a lot of versatility,” Beery said. “I’m a left-handed pitcher and outfielder and I played first base before I was an outfielder.

“Offensively, my role in the lineup is to get on base. I’m not a big power guy, I succeed by hitting line drives into the gaps. Off the field, I have a positive attitude.”

That helped during recruitment when COVID-19 slowed down the process.

“With everything going on, D-I and D-II schools couldn’t come out to watch so it was a lot different than I expected,” Beery admitted. “But my coach was very good about sending out videos.”

A strong summer playing for Release Baseball helped show what Beery could do.

“It was a very successful summer pitching and hitting,” pointed out Beery, highlighted by a team title in the Border Battle. “I averaged around .350 against the best competition around. That’s what I like about being with Release, every game you're seeing someone 90-plus. We not only saw great pitching, but some of the best hitters and teams around.

“My role as a pitcher was to come in relief and close it,” added Beery. “I had a 1.2 or 1.3 ERA with 1.7 strikeouts per inning. That’s what I can contribute. I miss barrels. That’s my thing.”

With summer season complete and a commitment made, Beery is excited where he is today.

“It’s a sigh of relief,” Beery admitted. “This is what I’ve been working for my whole life, to play D-I baseball. Even without covid this is where I’d go. OU is the right fit for me.

“Now the hard work starts,” concluded Beery. “I have to work to keep getting better and, hopefully, OU can develop me more as a player hitting, pitching and defensively.”