Howard QB Casey Crawford (11) delivers a pass during action against Oakland Mills on October 2, 2015 in Columbia, MD. (Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post)
The scouts from Bridgewater College figured Casey Crawford was worth the wait.
The talent evaluators had seen enough film of the 6-foot-1 senior shortstop from Howard. They wanted to see him in person. At the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches Futures Classic in Bowie, the Eagles coaches drove four hours from campus in Rockingham County, Va., to get a look at Crawford. They stayed for the whole game and waited for an hour in the dugout just to talk to him.
On Oct. 28, that effort paid off. Crawford announced on social media he had orally committed to Bridgewater. He said Tuesday that he plans on signing his National Letter of Intent Wednesday after practice with the football team, which he has quarterbacked to a 10-0 record and the top seed in the Maryland 4A North region semifinals.
In addition to getting all the right vibes, Crawford said an immediate shot at the starting shortstop job and a chance to earn academic scholarship money influenced his decision to pick Bridgewater over Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Ferrum and Roanoke.
“Just walking around campus everyone is saying hi and waving to me,” Crawford said. “Everyone just seems really friendly there in the community. And then the coaches told me they have huge attendance at the baseball games. It’s a small town.”
craw_daddy2 Proud to say that I’ve committed to further my academic and athletic career at Bridgewater!
Crawford said it wasn’t until last year that he decided he should focus on baseball.
After sitting as the backup quarterback for the past two years, he has given the run-focused Lions a deep threat this season by completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,689 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions through 10 games.
Although he loves football and is champing at the bit to play Mergenthaler Vocational in the opening round of the playoffs Friday, Crawford said he notices the grind more on the gridiron than he does on the diamond.
“Pretty much until my junior year, I was dead set on playing football in college,” Crawford said. “I remember specifically one day coming home after a baseball practice, sitting down and saying I really enjoy playing baseball. I love it, and I don’t want to give it up competitively yet.”
NUMBER CRUNCH: 18
Area boys’ basketball seniors heading into the season with Division-I commitments.
Today marks the start of college basketball’s early signing period.
BREAKFAST LINK:
- A flair for the dramatic followed Meade boys’ soccer in a region final against Broadneck. Read how the Mustangs held on and get more boys’ and girls’ recaps here.
PHOTO FINISH:
Check out Wootton senior Marisa Morakis striking the lone goal of a 1-0 win over Dulaney that sent the Patriots into the state championship game against Severna Park.
TOP PLAYS EPISODE 11:
Host B.J. Koubaroulis runs through the top plays from the week of football in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Field hockey state semifinals in Maryland. In the 2A showcase Howard County representative Marriotts Ridge needs a win over Middletown to advance to the final. Kent Island and defending champion Hereford will vie for the other spot. The games are 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Broadneck’s turf in Annapolis. Paint Branch hosts the 1A semis with Manchester Valley vs. Pocomoke at 5 p.m. and Calvert County representative Patuxent vs. Patterson Mill at 7 p.m.
