Andrews To Play Baseball For Boilermakers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Releasing it first on his Twitter account Wednesday evening, TVHS senior Tanner Andrews, a three-sport standout for the Vikings, has made a verbal committment to play baseball for the Purdue Boilermakers.
He will be able to sign his national letter of intent on April 1.
“Proud to say that I’m going to spend the next 4 years playing baseball for Purdue University! #BoilerUp,” Andrews tweeted.
His timeline was then filled up with congratulatory messages from a number of local athletes.
In a phone interview Thursday, Andrews said he just felt comfortable in West Lafayette.
“I fell in love with it the first time I was there,” said Andrews. “I felt comfortable with the coaches. I pitched a bullpen session with them in Dec. and I went back Monday, I just felt like I fit in well there.”
Committing to play baseball in the Big Ten means his athletic life in college will focus solely around one sport.
Since he was a freshman at Valley, he has started on the varsity team in football, basketball and baseball.
The 6-foot-3 Andrews holds every receiving record in school history for Valley’s tradition-rich football program.
He was the 2012 Times-Union Offensive Player of the Year.
He has been named First-Team All-State and All-Three Rivers Conference multiple times.
On the hardwood, he helped Bill Patrick’s basketball team to a 20-4 record and the sectional championship last year.
The Vikings are currently 7-2 going into tonight’s game with rival Rochester.
In Valley’s game at Northfield on Tuesday, Andrews, one of only six boys players in school history to score 1,000 career points, finished the night with 24 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four blocks and four steals.
“Without a doubt, he’s the most decorated athlete we’ve had at Valley,” said TVHS Athletic Director Duane Burkhart, who has been at the school for 31 years. “When you start looking at all the records and recognition, the All-Area, All-Conference, All-State selections, he has to be the most decorated athlete we’ve ever had.”
On the baseball diamond for the Vikings last year, Andrews finished the season with a .510 batting average.
Purdue recruited Andrews as a pitcher and an outfielder.
All along, however, Andrews thought he might end up playing football in college.
“Purdue was the first to really step up and recruit me,” said Andrews. “I also heard from Michigan State, Ball State, Ohio State, but I was honest with them, I told them I really thought I was gonna play football.”
After a lot of thought and prayers, Andrews said he made the right decision, both committing to baseball and to Purdue.
“I know that I’ve taken my shoulder pads off for the last time, and I’ll miss football, but I would have missed baseball a lot more,” said Andrews.
Andrews said he was clocked throwing as fast as 91 mph last summer.
“I’ve had a lot of fun playing all three sports in high school, but I’m excited about focusing on baseball,” said Andrews.[[In-content Ad]]
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Releasing it first on his Twitter account Wednesday evening, TVHS senior Tanner Andrews, a three-sport standout for the Vikings, has made a verbal committment to play baseball for the Purdue Boilermakers.
He will be able to sign his national letter of intent on April 1.
“Proud to say that I’m going to spend the next 4 years playing baseball for Purdue University! #BoilerUp,” Andrews tweeted.
His timeline was then filled up with congratulatory messages from a number of local athletes.
In a phone interview Thursday, Andrews said he just felt comfortable in West Lafayette.
“I fell in love with it the first time I was there,” said Andrews. “I felt comfortable with the coaches. I pitched a bullpen session with them in Dec. and I went back Monday, I just felt like I fit in well there.”
Committing to play baseball in the Big Ten means his athletic life in college will focus solely around one sport.
Since he was a freshman at Valley, he has started on the varsity team in football, basketball and baseball.
The 6-foot-3 Andrews holds every receiving record in school history for Valley’s tradition-rich football program.
He was the 2012 Times-Union Offensive Player of the Year.
He has been named First-Team All-State and All-Three Rivers Conference multiple times.
On the hardwood, he helped Bill Patrick’s basketball team to a 20-4 record and the sectional championship last year.
The Vikings are currently 7-2 going into tonight’s game with rival Rochester.
In Valley’s game at Northfield on Tuesday, Andrews, one of only six boys players in school history to score 1,000 career points, finished the night with 24 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four blocks and four steals.
“Without a doubt, he’s the most decorated athlete we’ve had at Valley,” said TVHS Athletic Director Duane Burkhart, who has been at the school for 31 years. “When you start looking at all the records and recognition, the All-Area, All-Conference, All-State selections, he has to be the most decorated athlete we’ve ever had.”
On the baseball diamond for the Vikings last year, Andrews finished the season with a .510 batting average.
Purdue recruited Andrews as a pitcher and an outfielder.
All along, however, Andrews thought he might end up playing football in college.
“Purdue was the first to really step up and recruit me,” said Andrews. “I also heard from Michigan State, Ball State, Ohio State, but I was honest with them, I told them I really thought I was gonna play football.”
After a lot of thought and prayers, Andrews said he made the right decision, both committing to baseball and to Purdue.
“I know that I’ve taken my shoulder pads off for the last time, and I’ll miss football, but I would have missed baseball a lot more,” said Andrews.
Andrews said he was clocked throwing as fast as 91 mph last summer.
“I’ve had a lot of fun playing all three sports in high school, but I’m excited about focusing on baseball,” said Andrews.[[In-content Ad]]
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