2013 Dexter graduate Brad Potts slated to play baseball at Evangel University

DEXTER, Mo. - 2013 Dexter graduate Brad Potts is slated to continue playing baseball next season at a four-year college.

Potts, who is about to begin his sophomore season as a pitcher at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill., has committed to play baseball at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo., next year.

"I'm very excited," Potts said. "Baseball is the dream and I'm just glad I can keep going."

Evangel University took notice of Potts when he was playing summer baseball for the Charleston Fighting Squirrels.

"One of my assistant coaches saw him and some other guys play this past summer on a summer league team," Evangel University baseball coach Lance Quessenberry said. "He brought the information back to me and we got in touch with Brad. He came over for a visit this fall and tried out. He threw for us, took some fly balls in the outfield and hit for us. We really liked what we saw so we made him an offer shortly after that. He has been thinking it over for a while and he finally made the decision he wanted to come to Evangel and we are excited to have him."

Potts said his primary responsibility at Shawnee has been pitching.

"I use a fastball, curveball, slider and change-up," Potts said. "They all work for me.

"It has been very interesting so far," Potts added. "My first year was an eye-opener. After my first couple of games I made the transition to pitching to good hitters, which has helped me out a lot."

Quessenberry expects Potts to pitch and potentially see time in the outfield at Evangel.

"Pitching would be the first priority," Quessenberry said. "But we also know he has some ability in the outfield, as well. We are in a situation where we allow players to be two-way players. If they show they can do it we are going to let them do it, but his first priority will be on the mound."

Evangel University is an NAIA Division I college that competes in the Heart of America Conference. Its baseball program finished with a conference record of 20-6 and overall record of 33-15 in the 2014 season.

"We are young this year and have got a lot of guys coming back," Quessenberry said. "We are just needing some more guys with experience, and it will be huge for our program that Brad already has two years of experience at a community college program. We really expect him to come in and be a contributor right away."

Potts hit .397 with 15 RBIs and 20 runs scored in 24 games played at Dexter his senior season. He went 2-3 on the hill with a 1.46 ERA in 33.2 innings of work.

"I'm always proud of Brad," Dexter coach Brian Becker said. "He's a great kid and I'm happy to see him move on to the next level."

Potts says he plans on majoring in business at Evangel University.