PORT ANGELES — College baseball recruiters aren’t exactly blazing a trail to visit the North Olympic Peninsula.
Sometimes, if your dream is to play collegiate baseball like Port Angeles High School’s Logan Ciaciuch, you have to make the extra effort.
You put the ball in play like Ciaciuch did by researching programs and emailing coaches, and getting out in the field and excelling at club tournaments.
Ciaciuch, witnessed by a group of family, friends, school teachers and administrators, including his parents Jim and Kim, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play baseball for coach Dan Ramsey at Division III Whitworth University in Spokane.
“It feels awesome,” Ciaciuch said.
“I’m so excited. Like my mom said, I’ve always wanted to play college baseball, and hopefully go farther.”
Not bad for a kid who threw a fit at age 7 when his first baseball game on the North Olympic Peninsula was cancelled due to rain.
Such things didn’t really exist in the sunny climes of his former home in Santa Clarita, Calif.
“I’d never heard of a rainout down there so I kind of freaked out when my parents told me we weren’t playing,” Ciaciuch said.
Ciaciuch, who earned second team All-Olympic League honors last year for the Roughriders, was spotted by Ramsey last September while playing for his club team, the Belfair-based Northwest Blaze.
“He saw me at Baseball Northwest in Centralia, and emailed me a few weeks later saying he wanted to see more,” Ciaciuch said.
Ramsey’s interest was strong enough to push Ciaciuch and his dad to leave early from a baseball camp at Corban University in Salem Ore., and hit the road for Spokane and Whitworth’s own skills camp.
“Coach Ramsey was really adamant about wanting me there,” Ciaciuch said.
Once on the field in Spokane, Ciaciuch shined in drills.
“It was probably one of the best days I’ve had on a field, and I felt great after that experience,” Ciaciuch said.
Ramsey took the pair out to dinner, where the elder Ciaciuch sat back and watched the pitch.
“Sometimes you get some college coaches who really want you to attend . . . and pay your $200 [camp fee,” Jim Ciaciuch said.
“Ramsey’s interest was genuine.”
The coach offered to hold a spot on the 23-man roster for Ciaciuch, provided the honor roll student was accepted by the Whitworth admissions department.
He received the good word on his admission a few weeks ago and is now looking forward to the move to the Inland Empire.
“I liked seeing everybody wearing Whitworth gear when I was touring the campus,” Ciaciuch said.
“I enjoyed my night in the dorms and my time there, it’s a beautiful campus.
He won’t go hungry either.
“There’s a lot of food there, Ciaciuch said.
“One thing I noticed about Spokane, there’s a lot of good food to eat.”
Ciaciuch said defense is what drove interest in him as ballplayer.
“Defense is definitely the strongest part of my game,” Ciaciuch said.
“Coaches have called me “the Wall,” because I don’t let too much past me.
I can play every position but catcher, really. “
He’s normally batted at the top of the lineup, using speed on the base paths and patience at the plate to get on base.
That speed is what helped draw Ramsey’s attention.
“Logan is an above-average runner with an above- average arm,” Ramsey said.
“We liked his athleticism, and see him developing to only get faster and stronger once he gets in the weight room and takes part in a college strength program.”
Athletic ability is important to the Whitworth program under Ramsey.
“We recruit athleticism,” Ramsey said.
“We go after high school shortstops and center fielders because they are typically the best athletes on the field.
“That being said, we believe Logan possesses the skill set and athleticism to play multiple positions which bodes well for any incoming prospect. We will have a very talented returning group of infielders and the addition of Logan will make us even better.”
Ciaciuch hopes to break through into the starting ranks next season.
“He brought me in because his current shortshop is a senior,” Ciaciuch said.
“I play shortstop and he said the guy reminds him a lot of me.”
From the word of the coaches and teachers who spoke highly of him at his signing ceremony, Whitworth also is getting a player of high integrity.
Ramsey agrees.
“Logan possesses the type of character that is a great fit for our university and baseball program,” Ramsey said.
“He will represent us well both on and off the field.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsualdailynews.com.