Published: May 16, 2008 10:37 am            

Bray-Doyle’s Byford signs with WOSC

B-D strikeout machine ready to work for spot in Pioneer rotation

BRAY — Bray-Doyle’s Chris Byford is taking his rocket-right arm to Western Oklahoma State College.

The Donkeys’ strikeout whiz inked Thursday with the Pioneers, putting pen to paper on a scholarship that will see him suit up in green and gold next season.

At 6-5 and 230 pounds, Byford was a monster presence on the mound for B-D throughout his high school career. Once it was made official, Byford said he was ecstatic about the opportunity to move on to the college level.

“I’m proud of myself because I worked hard,” Byford said. “Not many small-school kids get the chance to play ball in college, but luckily, I’m one of the guys who gets to do it.”

Byford’s recruitment began in the fall and culminated with an offer from a top 10 JUCO program.

“They are a dominant program and I couldn’t be going to a better place,” Byford said. “Western is one of the best hitting teams in the nation. They could score 10 to 15 runs a game, if they wanted to.”

A multi-sport athlete in high school, Byford said he was happy to move on in baseball.

“Really, I always waned to make it an option for myself to be able to play any sport I wanted to when I graduated,” Byford said. “I might have had a chance to play football, but baseball is really my first love.”

As dominant as Byford was in high school, he acknowledged that the hardest adjustment he’ll face from high school to college will be better hitters.

“Just getting used to people getting hits off me will be huge,” Byford said. “In high school, I was a strikeout pitcher, but at the college level, I will have to learn to trust my defense behind me.”

Byford added that with just a couple of pitchers returning to next season’s squad, he is optimistic of earning a spot in the starting rotation.

“I’m looking to be on a national tournament team and be one of the top pitchers in our rotation,” Byford said. “I want to out-work everybody around me and be the top person on the staff.”

Notes: Byford joins Marlow shortstop Garrett Brown as incoming freshmen to Western’s recruiting class.

        

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