CMB’s Stover signs to play South Dakota State baseball

MAXWELL — Last February, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter’s Brady Stover watched four of his friends partake in a college signing ceremony.

When the event concluded, Stover looked over at a few friends in attendance and said, “I hope that’s me next year.”

Little did he know that dream would end being true.

Stover inked his national letter of intent to play Division I baseball at South Dakota State on Wednesday.

“I hoped it would be me, but I didn’t really have any offers at that point,” Stover said in regards to what he said to a small group of friends on that memorable day in February. “Feels like all the weight is off my shoulders though. My dream as a kid was to be a Division I baseball player. It feels good that the dream finally came true.”

Stover gave his verbal commitment to South Dakota State back in early June. He was getting interest at the time from Iowa, Kansas State, Minnesota, Illinois State and St. Louis. Stover jumped on his first scholarship offer and rewarded the program that made him its top choice in its 2016 class.

“They said I was their No. 1 choice as far as this year’s recruiting class. (Coach Dave Schrage) told me when I committed it made his week so they really wanted me there,” said Stover, who pitches all year round for a select team through Perfect Game out of Cedar Rapids.

Stover is a standout athlete in four sports. He earned first-team all-state football honors as a defensive back during his junior season, ran on the Raiders’ shuttle hurdle relay team which advanced to the state track meet last spring and was named a second-team all-state pitcher this summer.

A shoulder injury derailed his chances to earn a first-team all-state honor. His numbers were strong despite missing a few weeks.

Stover struck out 91 batters in 44 1/3 innings pitched. He went 5-2, had a 1.58 earned run average and opposing hitters batted .171 against him.

The left-hander has touched 88 miles per hour on the radar gun.

“Brady is the key to our recruiting class. Being able to get a left-handed pitcher of his caliber is a big shot in the arm for our program,” South Dakota State head coach Dave Schrage said. “His numbers are off the charts. His best baseball is still ahead of him; he’s just going to keep getting better and better.”

Schrage and the Jackrabbits liked the fact Stover played four sports.

Schrage also identified Stover as a competitive athlete who comes from a great family.

“We expect Brady to be able to come into our program and contribute right away,” Schrage said.

That’s an expectation that Stover has, too. Before that, he’ll try to lead the Raiders to a state tournament appearance this summer.

CMB reached the district final this past season and Stover’s win over top-seeded Ogden was one of the reasons. He struck out 15 in that upset victory.

“Brady signing his letter of intent today is huge for the entire CMB community,” CMB coach Max Seeman said. “It will lower his stress and some of the pressure he puts on himself and allow him to hopefully improve even more after a stellar junior season.

“We will be looking for Brady to really step up and be a leader along with the rest of his senior classmates.”

Contact Troy Hyde at
641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@newtondailynews.com