By Chris Webb

With Taylore Cherry (Vandalia-Butler) and Matt Smoral (Solon) issuing verbal commitments to North Carolina last October, college coaches have turned their focus to another coveted pitcher in Tallmadge righty Tucker Linder, Ohio?s number 3 ranked player in the Class of 2012. -->

With his momentum rising, Linder is being targeted by both regional and national powers with offers from Arizona, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Kent State, and Ohio State. Other schools, including Louisville, Texas Christian, and Virginia, have shown high interest.

Recently, the junior right-handed pitcher shed light on his spring success, his recruitment process, and potential college destination.

In the only game last week for Tallmadge, Linder pitched a one-hitter in a 10-0 win over Highland on Thursday night. With the seven strikeouts in the win, Linder now stands at 5-0 on the year with a 0.45 ERA picking up 48 strikeouts in 35.0 IP.  The numbers so far in 2011 have matched the hype for Linder, and that is something that he is aware of.

?There has been a lot of hype about me so far, and I?ve been a lot more focus this year because I?ve had the bulls-eye on my back,? Linder said. ?With everyone trying to get hits off me and come at me as hard as they can, I?ve been more focused than I have ever been and that?s a big reason why I have been successful.?

Amidst his spring success, one may wonder how Linder balances his performance on the field with the recruiting process off the field.

?Right now I?m not putting too much thought into where I?m going to go yet, I?m just focusing on my junior high school baseball season,? Linder said. ?When the time comes, later in the summer I?ll give it more thought, but right now all of my focus is on the high school season and getting my team to the state championship.?

For fans and observers of Ohio high school and college baseball, one would assume that though Linder isn?t focusing on it, local Kent State would be the leader for Linder?s services as his mother Karen is the head coach of the Kent State softball team. Not so fast.

?Obviously I know Coach Stricklin and Coach Birkbeck real well, but there is not a favorite,? the junior said. ?Right now I have 10 schools in mind that I talked to and have interest in, and they?re all holding the #1 spot. I don?t have a list of top five with say #1 Kent State, #2 Ohio State and so on, they?re all number one.?

As Linder, who works with a low-90s fastball, a mid-upper 70s 12-6 curve, a low 80s slider, and change-up, prepares to help advance Tallmadge as far as possible in the OHSAA state baseball tournament, the door is wide open in his recruitment he says is wide open and will be throughout the summer.