ALLIANCE - Drew Denham is excited about what lies ahead at Akron after a recent commitment to the Mid-American Conference school.

“I like their vision about where they want the program to head,” the Marlington senior said about the new coaching staff at the university, starting with head coach Greg Beals.

“I’ve known a good amount about coach Beals from when he was at Ohio State,” Denham related. “This summer I saw he got the Akron job and I knew I liked him. Zach Dezenzo (a 2018 Marlington graduate who played for Beals at Ohio State) had nothing but good to say about him.

“I reached out to them with videos and then got on a visit,” Denham continued. “I met the coaches and a good amount of the players and liked all of them.”

That trip to the university took place in late August and soon after, the seventh-rated 2023 shortstop in Ohio was an Akron commit.

“I like the area,” Denham noted. “It’s not too close to home but not too far away. I really like the campus. What I’d use is close to each other which I like.”

Volunteer State, a junior college in Nashville, was also being considered by Denham, who was talking with Central Florida and Mt. St. Mary’s as well.

“When I started talking to coach Beals it went fast,” Denham said. “He likes my ability to swing it and likes me defensively in the infield but also likes that I’m able to be versatile enough to move all over the place.”

The 49th-ranked senior in the state plays shortstop on his Marlington high school team and middle infield or third base in the summer.

“My goal is to shoot for shortstop/middle infield but I’d be open to wherever I’d fit in best,” Denham said. “But the goal is the middle.”

The idea of playing at the next level began “since I started playing baseball” according to Denham, and then became realistic at the beginning of high school.

“My freshman year I started talking to schools and I knew then if I did the right things and worked hard I’d have the opportunity,” Denham pointed out.

But a torn UCL that required surgery in June of 2021 put a damper on those dreams, at least temporarily.

“I was out overall for 10 to 11 months,” Denham said. “I only played 10 games my sophomore year.”

It was a learning process for the 5-11 180-pounder.

“I got a higher appreciation from not being able to play and to not take anything for granted,” Denham explained. “Watching the game from afar, I learned about a lot of little things from pitchers.”

In the end, it all worked out for Denham, who admittedly did not have a smooth recruiting process.

“It was definitely stressful, especially starting off with Covid and coaches not seeing us, and then after Covid with all the leftover players,” Denham pointed out. “A big positive was being able to play in big tournaments and getting big ABs off good arms. Any success there helped out.”

There was additional help along the journey to being a college baseball D-I commit to a university 45 minutes away from his home in Alliance.

“During the injury my family was very beneficial to have them there to keep me staying positive,” Denham said. “My hitting coach, Niko Marchetti, has also helped me out a lot over the past two to three years with my swing. He helps with anything I need, not just hitting.”

Exercise science will be the major for Denham, a 3.9 student with a 27 on his ACT who is relieved to know where his college home will be.

“It’s definitely a big weight off my shoulders to not have to worry about my recruitment,” the 17-year-old admitted. “All my family was super excited that I’m close to home and they can still see me play. I’m happy to go somewhere I’m able to play but still have to work hard to earn a spot. It will be great to go somewhere that’s a challenge for me, but where I’ll also get my schooling done.”