Canton South's Bowles verbally commits to OSU

Bowles is Ohio State's First '12 Commit

CANTON TWP. — Canton South High School baseball coach Trent McIlvain noticed Logan Bowles wearing a lot of Ohio State gear recently.

“He’s pretty much changed his wardrobe,” McIlvain said. “He used to wear a lot of other schools.”

Bowles likely will have his very own Buckeyes baseball uniform in a couple of years.


Bowles, a junior, verbally committed to Ohio State’s partial scholarship offer Saturday morning. He was on an official visit to the campus and attending the Ohio State football game against Indiana.

Bowles received an e-mail about a month ago inviting him to a recent baseball showcase at OSU, according to McIlvain. “Ever since the

e-mail came and he was invited down, he’s been geared to be a Buckeye. So he’s really excited right now.”

Bowles received interest from other schools, but Ohio State was the first to offer. He can’t sign a national letter of intent until next year.

McIlvain, an Ohio State infielder from 1998-2001, answered a lot of questions from Bowles about being a Buckeye.

“I stayed objective,” he said. “Obviously I want him to be a Buckeye, and I’m proud he’s joined the Ohio State family. But I didn’t try to persuade him because I want him to do what he wants to do and what’s best for him.”

Bowles batted .372 with 22 RBIs as a sophomore last year for the Wildcats, while going 3-3 with a 3.36 ERA. He struck out 48 in 412⁄3 innings in gaining second team All-NBC honors.

As a freshman at McKinley, Bowles was 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA. He batted .460 with 11 RBIs and received honorable mention status for the Federal League.

“Ultimately, pitching is the main reason they’re recruiting him,” McIlvain said. “But they have not ruled out his chance to be a hitter or play first base.”

The Buckeyes are no doubt intrigued by the right-hander’s 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame.

“He’s a strikeout pitcher,” McIlvain said. “He’s a guy that can go out and make guys miss. When he’s getting ahead in the count and able to use his slider or changeup late in the count, he gets a lot of strikeouts.

“I can’t say he’s a power pitcher because he’s mid 80s. But he’s (16). He’s a kid that will go right at you with the fastball, then make you miss with the slider.”

The last Stark County product to play baseball at Ohio State was Canton South’s Ronnie Bourquin from 2004-06. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2006. Green graduate Dean Wolosiansky is a senior pitcher for the Buckeyes.