NEW PARIS — Billy Lanman, who will be a four-year shortstop for National Trail baseball, signed a letter of intent to take his talents to Wright State University – Lake Campus during a small ceremony at National Trail High School on Friday, Feb. 19.
“They are starting a really good core. They got a great recruiting class coming in and I’m glad to be a part of it,” he said. “They’ve won multiple championships in their conference there so I’m just proud to be an incoming freshman and carrying that tradition.”
Lanman, so far, has been named to three straight All-CCC Honorable Mentions and three straight All-Academic teams during his time in a Blazer uniform.
He hopes to carry that consistency and reliability over to the collegiate level as well.
“I want to be one of those kids, they can put me anywhere in the field and be able to play at the highest level I can. (I want to) just make an impact right away,” said Lanman.
And the shortstop may very well be on his way to that status. He has grown leaps and bounds from a season ago, said his current head coach Dusty Thompson.
“Billy has all the tools – he can throw, he can hit, he can run – he has it all. We are really excited this year to watch him continually develop,” said Thompson. “He’s a leader, he’s outspoken, and he’s verbal. He’s everything I need out of him.”
Lanman hopes to major in mechanical engineering and getting a great education is one of his top priorities for choosing WSU – Lake Campus as well. And while he’s excited to start the newest chapter of his life, he is also thankful for his time as a Blazer.
“It (was) an honor to be a freshman and starting varsity. I’ve had great coaches. Thompson came in and really, really blew me away with all of his knowledge and I’m just glad I could eat it all up,” he said. “I love my time here trail. I hate to leave.”