Marshall Baseball Star Signs With JMU

Playing baseball is what Michael Evans has wanted to do since he was a kid.

And the 18-year-old left-handed pitcher at George Marshall High School will get a chance to do it as he continues his career at James Madison University next season. Evans, of Falls Church, said he really enjoyed the JMU coaching staff and players but it was what the school offered academically that lured him.

“They have a new engineering program which is what I want to study,” Evans said. “My other scholarship offer came from Saint Joseph’s University (Pennsylvania) but they didn’t have an engineering program.”

The 6-foot-4 tEvans earned second-team all-Liberty District in 2012 as a pitcher for the Statesmen. The Statesmen finished 12-8 last season and lost in the first round of regional play to Westfield High.

Spanky McFarland, head baseball coach at JMU, offered Evans the scholarship during a September visit to the Harrisonburg school. McFarland said his latest signing class fills needs on the team and they’re athletic.

Getting to play against a high level of competition is what Evans is looking forward to doing in college. Playing baseball is something he finds fun and hasn’t thought much about making it a career.

“If I can play past college, I’d love to,” Evans said. “I’m more focused on getting my degree and getting a job to pay the bills.”

First-year Statesmen Head Coach Aaron Tarr believes his pitcher can make the jump to the professional ranks in baseball. For the last three years, Tarr served as an assistant coach for the Statesmen and has seen Evans growth. Evans, he said, finished the 2012 season with 38 strikeouts in 27 innings of work and a 1.37 ERA. Tarr said Evans is good at the plate as well. Evans drives the ball and more will be expected from the pitcher at the plate than on the mound this season.

“He has always been a kid who leads,” Tarr said. “He’s always been the kid who’s going to show up, dig in and lead by example.”

Kathy Evans is excited her son will live out his dream and play collegiate baseball. Even more exciting: he will only be a drive away down Interstate-66. She was with her son the day the scholarship was offered but said he took his time responding to the offer. Even with other children with busy schedules to keep up with, she said she would make time to see Evans play in college.

“As my schedule permits,” she said. “I look forward to seeing him play in college as much as possible.”

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