CHIMACUM — Seattle University has locked up another Chimacum High School baseball star.
Landon Cray, a three-time PDN prep baseball MVP and all-state selection, signed a letter-of-intent to play for the Division-I Redhawks starting in the 2012-13 academic year when they join the Western Athletic Conference.
Cray will be the second Cowboy to suit up for Seattle U in recent years.
Former Chimacum standout Arlo Evasick pitched for the private Jesuit university during the 2010 and ’11 seasons after two years at Everett Community College.
“I knew Arlo really well. We were really good friends because my cousin, [Cowboys pitcher Devin Cray], was around his age,” Landon said.
“I wouldn’t say he had a big part of why I went there, but definitely having a kid from my hometown having the experience of Seattle U and being able to share what they have helped with my decision a lot.”
Cray has been the Cowboys’ ace pitcher since his freshman season.
After leading Chimacum to the Class 2A state semifinals and finals in his first two years, he was the game-winning pitcher in the team’s state championship win over Tenino last May.
The 5-foot-9, 168-pound left-hander said the Seattle U coaches’ willingness to let him pitch and play in the field factored heavily into his decision.
“I wanted to play was the big thing for me,” Cray said. “They told me if I worked hard and keep up my end of the deal, I have a good chance to start for them freshman year. That was a big thing.
“And also I will be able to pitch for them, too. I wanted to keep doing that after high school as well.”
Most of all, Redhawks head coach Donny Harrel said he hopes to put Cray in center field and utilize his fielding skills and powerful bat.
Cray had a .575 batting average as a junior last spring, belting a school record nine home runs in the process. He also had 11 doubles, four triples and 53 runs scored in 26 games.
“Landon is a true leadoff hitter,” Harrel said in a news release. “He is tough, fast and hates to lose. He will push the club with his work ethic and attitude.
“Landon will fill our void in center field and will be a defensive key when we play in the bigger parks of the Western Athletic Conference. This kid will excite our fans.”
Cray is the first North Olympic Peninsula baseball player to be successfully recruited out of high school by a Division I university since 2003.
Port Angeles’ Matt Lane (Washington) and Forks’ Wayne Daman Jr. (Washington State) both went D-I immediately after high school that year.
While Evasick’s path to Seattle went through Everett, Port Angeles’ Eric Lane, Matt’s little brother, had a two-year stop at Lower Columbia Community College before moving on to Gonzaga in 2010.
Cray said he received interest from Washington and Washington State but ultimately decided Seattle U was the best choice.
He will play on a partial athletic scholarship and receive money for some private scholarships. He plans to study business.
“There were a bunch of schools from around the nation that contacted me, but I guess when it was time to get down to business, Seattle U was the one that was right there,” he said.
“We were always keeping in touch. I really liked what they had to offer, and it seemed like the perfect fit for me, not just from a baseball standpoint.”
Seattle U reinstated its baseball program in 2010 and will finally gain conference affiliation next spring.
Cray was one of seven high school recruits who signed letters of intent to play for the school this week, according to goseattleu.com.
Six of the seven were from the state of Washington.
“I think it’s a great idea [Cray going to Seattle U],” Chimacum baseball coach Jim Dunn said.
“There’s some other schools that were kind of bigger-name schools that were kind of interested in him, but I think he made a good decision.”