PREP BASEBALL Baker, Ford pick Pitt to continue baseball careers

The Canfield and Boardman High standouts will sign letters of intent this week.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Chad Baker and Dan Ford couldn't pass up the big-city life -- or an opportunity to play college baseball.
The senior standouts from Canfield and Boardman high schools, respectively, are signing this week to play at Division I Pittsburgh.
Baker, a pitcher/first baseman, was expected to sign his letter of intent today, while Ford, an infielder, had targeted Friday.
Key factors
"The whole atmosphere is awesome," said the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Baker, recruited as a pitcher, of the Pitt campus.
"The city life provides a lot of opportunities you can't find anywhere else," he added. "It's a great education, and with Pitt athletics and the Big East Conference, you can't pass it up."
A right-hander, Baker went 5-0 with a 1.43 earned-run average as a junior and was a first-team Metro Athletic Conference selection.
He hopes to become part of the rotation in his first year with the Panthers.
Playing college baseball "started entering my mind as a freshman," Baker said, "when I got the opportunity to pitch in several varsity games."
Over the next couple of seasons, that experience began to pay off for Baker as he settled into a leadership role, which he also assumed with Astro Falcons of the Youngstown Class B League.
"There are guys who lead by example and guys who vocally lead the team," he said. "I bring a little bit of both to the table."
The Cardinals lost in the Division II district championship game last season to Canton Central Catholic, only fueling their hunger for next spring.
"We hope to have one of those seasons that you'll remember when you're 40 years old," said Baker, who also considered West Virginia, Ohio and Miami (Ohio).
On the corner
The prospect of playing as a freshman attracted Ford to the Panthers' program, which recruited the Spartan as a third baseman.
"I'm used to moving around," said Ford, a shortstop at Boardman, "but as long as I'm in the lineup to hit, that's all that matters."
Ford certainly can hit, which he does from the left side. The 6-foot, 200-pound performer batted .489 with four home runs as a junior, and followed that by batting .543 with two home runs for Line Drive of the Class B league.
He also played in the fall for the Allegheny Pirates.
"To compete with kids from Florida and kids in those [warm-weather] climates, you almost have to play year-round, because that's what they do," Ford said.
Ford also considered West Virginia, Michigan, Kent State and Akron, but he was influenced by Pitt's coaches and athletic facilities.
"It was stressful and long," Ford said of the recruiting process. "My parents [Larry and Peggy] helped me with that, and just getting a chance to meet the coaches and see the facilities really helped my decision."
Footsteps to follow
Ford became serious about a collegiate career as a sophomore, when he adopted the work ethic of the Spartans' seniors that year.
"Watching them play and seeing them go off to college really made me decide on baseball," Ford said. "I followed Matt Repec [infielder at Winthrop] around, and I just tried to do what he did. I practiced how he practiced."
Boardman lost last year in the Div. I district championship game to Austintown Fitch, and Ford is ready to lead the Spartans deeper into the tournament.
"Just the fact that I don't like to lose," said Ford, when asked to describe his prevailing skills. "That pushes myself, and hopefully that pushes the other players to try that much harder."
Pittsburgh, managed by Joe Jordano, went 36-20 last season and 13-13 in the Big East for sixth place.
richesson@vindy.com